Pope Leo XIV shares his first social media post as pontiff and deletes all his personal accounts

The connection between personal social media use and career progression has been a topic of growing relevance, particularly when high-profile leaders, like Pope Leo XIV , become the digital focus. The latest behaviour by Pope Leo XIV, who initiated sweeping updates to his social media accounts after his election, is representative of the changing role of online identities in professional contexts.

Pope Leo XIV's social media policy highlights a larger movement in which people and organizations go out of their way to manage their online persona, especially when moving into positions of power. For leaders, job applicants, or simply those entering the public eye, the value of controlling digital footprints cannot be overstated. As Pope Leo XIV transitioned from his own accounts to the official papal means, so too can others discover that scrubbing clean their social media image is the first step to projecting a professional image to the world.



Pope Leo XIV's first social media post calling for global peace


After his election on 8 May 2025, Pope Leo XIV took a significant step to make his official presence known on social media. On 13 May, only a week after becoming Pope, the Pope shared on the official Instagram and X (previously Twitter) accounts of the Holy See. The message was multilingual, published in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French, Polish, and German, as the Pope's first message to the world.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DJmOVZAiFXQ/ https://www.instagram.com/p/DJmOVZAiFXQ/

The post included photos of the Pope's initial days in office, with a warm message. In his own words, "Peace be with you all! This is the first greeting spoken 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 people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world."

This communication also underscored the Pope's vision to propagate peace and good will around the world via the digital platform, also reinforcing his position as a modern leader who approves of technology as a means of outreach.




Pope Leo XIV cleanses his social media presence for a new papal chapter


The Vatican's communication office, the Dicastery for Communication, affirmed that Pope Leo XIV would remain engaged on social media via the official pontiff handle on Instagram and X according to USA Today. The move is an extension of an emerging trend among global leaders and opinion shapers to leverage social media channels to directly speak to the masses. By having control of these official handles, the Pope guarantees his message is heard by many without being watered down or misinterpreted.

Prior to his pontifical election, Pope Leo XIV was also very much an active social media voice, in particular utilising sites such as X (Twitter) to share personal views. His tweets frequently contained criticism of political leaders, including Vice President JD Vance, whose immigration record he publicly condemned in February 2025.

Yet, soon after his election, Pope Leo XIV's earlier social media presence, maintained in his given name, Robert Francis Prevost, was erased. According to the reports, this fresh start highlights the necessity of having a separate, official online presence reflective of the duties and reputation of the papacy.



Pope Leo XIV's social media handles

As of May 15, 2025, the official pontiff Instagram handle has more than 12 million followers, while the X handle has more than 5,000 followers. These statistics demonstrate the explosive expansion of the Pope's online presence, highlighting the influence of social media to direct public opinion and keep in touch with a worldwide readership. For most organizations, such as the papacy, social media have proven to be a vital communications tool, making it evident that having an active, managed presence online is of pivotal importance for contemporary leadership.