Pope Leo XIV Enters His Instagram Era With Message of Peace

In a move that bridges centuries of tradition with the digital age, Pope Leo XIV is officially keeping the papacy online. According to a press release from the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication, the new pontiff will maintain an active presence on social media through the official papal accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram. 

His first Instagram post featured striking images from his early days as pope, paired with a message pulled from his inaugural Urbi et Orbi blessing after his election on May 8 and shared a message of peace:

“Peace be with you all! This is the first greeting spoken by the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd... I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, and among all people.”

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A post shared by Pope Leo XIV (@pontifex)

In the press release, the Dicastery for Communication noted that the official @Pontifex account on X counts a total of 52 million followers across nine languages. However, his new Instagram account, @pontifex will now serve as the sole official papal presence on the platform.

Meanwhile, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis’ social media content will be preserved: his Instagram account, @Franciscus will remain online as a digital archive, while his X posts will be stored in a dedicated section of the Vatican’s official website.

Pope Francis was no stranger to the digital realm, he shared over 50,000 posts during his time, including daily reflections, photos from global events, and messages championing peace, social justice, and environmental care. In 2020 alone, his posts racked up over 27 billion views.

With Pope Leo XIV picking up the digital mantle, it’s clear: in the modern papacy, even faith has a feed.