Culture

Instagram Account of the Pope goes through the ceiling

The Pope and Social networks – this is not a contradiction. Already one day after the activation, the account of Pope Francis to the photo and Video platform Instagram 1.3 million subscribers.

On Saturday (19.03.2016) had announced it to the Pope via Twitter: “I’m starting a new path, to Instagram, to go with you the way of the mercy and tenderness of God,” he wrote in the short message service. On Saturday afternoon, the Instagram has been unlocked-an Account of Pope Francis (Francis). The first published photo shows the head of the Catholic Church in the prayer of the head. To the comment “Pray for me” in nine languages, from Polish to Arabic. Surprise Sunday: 24 hours after unlocking, the account of Pope Francis had 1.3 million subscribers.

Meeting with people in remote corners

The Pope wants to continue to regularly publish images on Instagram. According to the Vatican, selected shots are to show the closeness of the Pope to the people. It is an endeavour to share the pontificate of Pope Francis “also an emotional aspect with all,” said the head of the Vatican’s media Secretariat Dario Edoardo Vigano.

In a social network such as Instagram mean to enter also, “that we extend the Saint Peter’s square, and the encounters of the Pope, so that every place in the world can be a place of real encounter with the Holy father,” said Vigano. Is in the care of the Online presence of the Pope by the staff of the communications Secretariat.

So far on Twitter successfully

On Twitter, Pope Francis is very successful: After his assumption of office in March 2013, he had inherited the Account from his predecessor. In the meantime, he reached in nine languages and more than 25 million Followers, the German-language Twitter Account has more than 300,000 Followers. “Befriend” to 79 with Francis on the Internet, however, not yet: The-Year-old has, as yet, no official Facebook page.

kk/nf (kna/dpa)