Pope Leo XIV has officially stepped into the digital age, releasing his inaugural post across the papal social media platforms—an avenue powerfully utilized by his predecessors, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. According to a statement from the Dicastery for Communication on Tuesday, the new Pope is committed to maintaining a vibrant and accessible presence on social media through official accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

His first Instagram post features poignant images from the early days of his pontificate and quotes from his inaugural Urbi et Orbi message delivered shortly after his election on May 8. The message reads:
"Peace be with you all! This is the first greeting spoken by the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd. I hope this message of peace may echo within your hearts, your homes, and across every land and nation."

The Vatican’s communication office reported that the @Pontifex account on X currently engages over 52 million followers across nine languages, demonstrating the global reach and significance of the papal voice online. Previous posts by Pope Francis will be preserved in an archival section of the Vatican’s official site, ensuring his legacy in digital evangelization remains accessible.

On Instagram, Pope Leo XIV will post under the name @Pontifex – Pope Leo XIV, which will serve as the only active official papal account on the Meta-owned platform. Pope Francis’ well-known @Franciscus account will transition into a commemorative archive, reflecting on his extensive engagement with the digital faithful.

During his time, Pope Francis revolutionized the Vatican’s digital outreach, sharing around 50,000 posts, primarily comprising brief inspirational quotes, calls for justice and peace, and photo reflections from his pastoral missions. His content in 2020 alone drew an astonishing 27 billion views, underlining the power of faith in the realm of social media.

It was Pope Benedict XVI who pioneered this journey. At the age of 84, on December 12, 2012, he sent the very first papal tweet:
"Dear friends, I am pleased to get in touch with you through Twitter. Thank you for your generous response. I bless all of you from my heart."
This historic moment marked the Vatican's embrace of modern communication tools, paving the way for future Popes to reach the faithful in unprecedented ways.

Upon succeeding him, Pope Francis carried that digital legacy forward. His own first message on X echoed humility and spiritual openness:
"Dear friends, I thank you from my heart and ask you to continue to pray for me."
He later expanded the papal presence to Instagram on March 19, 2016, posting a simple, powerful image of himself in prayer with the caption “Pray for me” in multiple languages.

Now, Pope Leo XIV’s entry into the online world signals not only a continuity of that tradition but also a renewed commitment to engage with people where they spend much of their lives—on digital platforms. As he embraces modern tools of evangelization, his example serves as a compass for how the Church and the faithful alike might act with integrity, compassion, and purpose in the virtual realm.