Rome: Amid the sea of young pilgrims gathered in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth and the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries, a pair of Lebanese twins stand out not for their celebrity, but for their mission. Charbel and Giovanni Lteif are not just Instagram personalities with over 600,000 followers on their page “eastern_christians” they are torchbearers of a two-millennia-old legacy, using social media to defend and promote the rich identity of Christians in the Middle East and North Africa.
Rather than adopting the modern title of “influencers,” the Lteif brothers see themselves as digital missionaries. “Our work started 2,000 years ago with Jesus,” Giovanni told Vatican News. “Each generation must embrace this mission, strengthen it, and pass it forward. Now it’s our turn.”
For the brothers, being Christian in the Middle East is not just a matter of faith, but of heritage. “You’re born with a mission,” Charbel explains. “Our identity, our traditions, our faith they are ancient gifts, and we feel a duty to preserve and share them.”
Their Instagram presence isn’t just about garnering followers it’s about changing the narrative. While the world often speaks of Eastern Christians only in the context of suffering, Charbel and Giovanni want to show who their people truly are.
“We are not just victims,” Charbel insists. “We are art. We are music. We are faith. We are strength.” Through storytelling, cultural highlights, liturgical beauty, and even music and art, their posts give voice to a vibrant, living community that continues to persevere against adversity.
The urgency of their mission is underscored by hard numbers. In just a century, the Christian population of the Middle East has plummeted from 13.6% to 4.2%. “This is happening in our lifetime,” Charbel says solemnly. But unlike many, the brothers reject the idea of escape. “Leaving isn’t the solution. We’ve fought for this land for 2,000 years. It is our home. We want to live here with dignity.”
Their social media work, then, is not simply about information it’s about survival. Their hope is that through awareness, solidarity, and prayer, the plight of Eastern Christians can be transformed into a future of hope.
From their beginnings in Lebanon to their presence in Rome, the twins’ journey is powered by a deep spirituality. With nearly 800,000 followers across platforms, they credit their growth to divine guidance. “It’s not just algorithms,” Giovanni says. “It’s prayer. It’s the Holy Spirit.”
Attending the Jubilee for Digital Missionaries in the Vatican is, for them, a powerful affirmation. “The Church is telling us this matters. Social media matters,” Charbel noted. And in a time where reels and algorithms can reach more hearts than pulpits, their mission is more important than ever.
Giovanni adds, “The weight of this work is real. But our strength comes from our Christian values. As long as we hold on to those, we fear nothing.”
Through their screens, these two brothers aren’t just posting they are proclaiming. Proclaiming that the Christian East is alive. That it is beautiful. And that it will endure.