Pope Leo XIV has established a significant digital presence with new accounts on X and Instagram. The first post on X was a quote from his inaugural greeting. The Instagram account quickly amassed over 13 million followers, and the X accounts have a combined following of over 52 million. This move marks a new strategy for the papacy, embracing modern communication to connect with a global audience. The rapid growth in followers highlights the Pope's appeal and the public's interest in this new form of engagement.
13 days ago
Pope Leo XIV has officially launched accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram 1 2. The Dicastery for Communication announced that this move signifies the Pope's intention to maintain an active social media presence 1 2. The first post on the "@Pontifex" X account, released on May 14, quoted his inaugural greeting 1 2. Similarly, his first Instagram post featured the same quote in seven languages, accompanied by a photo from his May 8 greeting 1 2.
The new @pontifex Instagram account amassed over 13 million followers by May 16 1 2. The English-language X account reached 18.6 million followers by the same date 1 2. The combined following across all nine language accounts on X exceeds 52 million 1 2. This rapid growth has led some to describe Pope Leo XIV as a "digital phenomenon" and the first "Pope influencer" 3.
The choice of the username "@Pontifex," Latin for "bridge builder," is symbolic 3. It reflects the need for connection in a fragmented world 3. Pope Leo XIV's early adoption of social media suggests that communication is central to his pastoral vision 3. This approach marks a deliberate break from Pope Francis’ more cautious use of social media 3.
Pope Benedict XVI launched the first papal Twitter account in 2012, and Pope Francis added the official Instagram account in 2016 1 2. Pope Francis' archived Instagram account, @Franciscus, had over 10 million followers 1 2. During Pope Francis' pontificate, around 50,000 posts were published, generating widespread interaction, especially during the pandemic 1 2. The X accounts inherited by Pope Leo XIV were previously used by both Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI 1 2.
The Church teaches about evangelization through modern communication.
The Catholic Church recognizes the importance of social media as a tool for ministry and evangelization .
Here's how the Church views social media:
The Pontifical Council for Social Communications, now Dicastery for Communication, was established to address questions regarding social communication and how these tools can benefit human progress and the message of salvation . The Dicastery also manages the Holy See's institutional website and the Pope's Twitter account . The Church recognizes that modern means of social communication can greatly contribute to the enlargement and enrichment of people's minds and to the spreading and consolidation of the Kingdom of God . The Church sees social media as both an instrument and a field of evangelization .