Leo XIV on social media

Pope Leo XIV has confirmed his presence on social media through the official papal accounts on X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram, the Vatican Dicastery for Communication announced yesterday. Leo XIV inherited the @Pontifex account on X, which had been previously managed by Pope Francis and, before him, Pope Benedict XVI. The account, which communicates in nine languages — English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Polish, Arabic and Latin — has amassed a following of 52 million users. Messages shared by Francis during his pontificate will be preserved in a dedicated archive section on the  Vatican’s official website. On Instagram, Pope Leo XIV will be present under the account name @Pontifex — Pope Leo XIV. This platform continues the legacy of Francis' @Franciscus account. In a gesture of remembrance, content from @Franciscus will remain accessible as an "Ad Memoriam" commemorative archive. The Vatican announced emphatically that Leo will maintain an "active social media presence." In fact, at 4:30 p.m. local time on May 14, Leo published his first Instagram post in his new account, greeting all the faithful in the world in a short message inspired by his first public appearance on May 8, that starts with "Peace be with you all!" The Vatican's engagement with social media began under Benedict XVI on Dec. 12, 2012, when the @Pontifex account was launched. It marked a historic step for the church's communication strategy, bringing the papal voice to a global digital audience. Francis used these platforms extensively, publishing around 50,000 posts across both accounts. His messages, often focused on themes of peace, social justice and environmental stewardship, resonated widely. During the height of the global pandemic in 2020, papal messages generated exceptional engagement, with 27 billion views recorded that year alone. Leo's decision to continue this digital presence suggests a commitment to maintaining direct communication with the faithful and broader global audiences.