Pope Leo XIV Launches Vatican Social Media Era

Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, has taken charge of the Vatican's official X and Instagram accounts (@Pontifex), reaching around 52 million followers in nine languages. His inaugural posts included photos from his early days as pope and a message of peace, echoing his first public address. The Vatican announced that posts from previous popes, including Pope Francis' 12-year papacy, will be archived to preserve their digital legacies. Before becoming pope, Leo was active on social media and publicly criticized Vice President JD Vance on issues such as immigration. Observers expect his official posts to focus on pastoral and unifying themes, avoiding divisive commentary. Pope Leo XIV's early activity indicates an intent to engage the global Catholic community on contemporary issues, continuing the digital outreach established by Benedict XVI and Francis.