Pope Leo XIV embraces digital mission, builds on social media legacy of Predecessors

In a clear sign of continuity and connection with the faithful around the world, Pope Leo XIV has chosen to actively maintain the Vatican’s official social media presence—affirming the Church’s mission in the digital age.

The Holy Father now communicates through the @Pontifex account on X (formerly Twitter) and a newly styled Instagram account: @Pontifex – Pope Leo XIV. These platforms, used previously by Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI, allow the pope to share messages of faith, unity, and hope in real time to millions worldwide.

The multilingual @Pontifex account—available in nine languages including English, Spanish, Italian, and Arabic—currently connects with over 52 million followers globally, making it one of the most followed religious accounts on the platform.

On Instagram, Pope Leo XIV continues the legacy of Pope Francis’ @Franciscus account. While the new handle has been updated to reflect the current Pope’s identity, the previous content remains preserved under a commemorative section titled “Ad Memoriam”, honoring Pope Francis’ digital contributions.

The Vatican also confirmed that all social media content from Pope Francis will be permanently archived on the official Holy See website, Vatican.va—a testament to a remarkable body of work that includes nearly 50,000 posts throughout his pontificate. 

These messages served as daily spiritual nourishment, offering reflections rooted in the Gospel and calls for peace, justice, and care for creation.

The Vatican’s journey on social media began on December 12, 2012, when Pope Benedict XVI launched the @Pontifex Twitter account. It marked a historic step into digital evangelization. 

Pope Francis expanded that presence with the launch of the official Vatican Instagram account on March 19, 2016, using visuals to accompany messages of compassion and global solidarity.

The digital reach of Pope Francis was extraordinary. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, his social media posts were viewed an estimated 27 billion times, bringing comfort and guidance to a world in crisis.

Now, with Pope Leo XIV at the helm, the Church renews its commitment to be a voice of truth and compassion in the digital sphere—continuing to accompany believers, foster dialogue, and evangelize in the spirit of the Divine Word.