Following his election on May 8, Pope Leo XIV has formally stepped into the digital space with a message grounded in tradition yet tailored for the modern world. On May 13, the newly elected pontiff made his first official post on the Vatican’s social platforms, signalling his intent to continue the Church’s strong online presence, previously established by his predecessors. The post featured his greeting from the Urbi et Orbi address and appeared across multiple languages on both Instagram and X.
The post read: “Peace be with you all! This is the first greeting 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 the people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world.” It was accompanied by photos capturing the early moments of his papacy and echoed themes of unity and spiritual guidance that Pope Francis frequently emphasised.
In a move consistent with recent tradition, Pope Leo XIV chose to retire his personal social media profiles – formerly under the name Robert Francis Prevost – shortly after his election. These posts, including those that had drawn public attention, such as one criticising JD Vance’s immigration stance, were deleted. According to the Dicastery for Communication, the move was part of a broader effort to align his digital life exclusively with the official papal channels.
As with previous posts, @Pontifex on X will serve as the central platform for his message. The Vatican confirmed that content from Pope Francis will be preserved as a digital archive on the Holy See’s website, ensuring continuity in the Church’s evolving engagement with technology. Pope Leo XIV also launched a new @pontifex – Pope Leo XIV handle on Instagram, which will stand as the sole official papal account on Meta’s platform.
While Pope Benedict XVI was the first to enter the digital realm in 2012, it was Pope Francis who expanded the Church’s online influence, reaching over 27 billion views in 2020 alone. His tenure saw approximately 50,000 posts that reflected themes of peace, justice, and care for creation.
Now, Pope Leo XIV appears set to follow that example. In his second post, he condemned global violence, calling for dialogue and empathy: “War is never inevitable… Those who sow peace will endure throughout history.”
As he steps into his role as the 266th pontiff, Pope Leo XIV seems poised to offer spiritual reflection and moral clarity not just from the Vatican balcony but across timelines, feeds, and stories.
