Pope Leo XIV's Surprising Social Media Debut

Pope Leo XIV made a striking entrance into the world of social media. His first move was to reactivate the official papal X account. He didn't waste any time and started posting messages that were full of passion. His first post was a simple greeting of peace. He wanted this message of peace to reach everyone, no matter where they were. He wasn't done yet. After a short break, he came back with a burst of six more posts in just 13 minutes. This rapid-fire posting style might remind some people of a certain former president's social media habits. In these posts, he spoke out against the violence and wars happening around the world. He even offered the Vatican's help to bring leaders together for peace talks. These messages weren't new for Pope Leo. He had been talking about these same issues since he was chosen as pope. He has been vocal about conflicts like the ones in Gaza, Ukraine, and between India and Pakistan. He even had a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He offered his support for a peaceful end to the war in Ukraine. Before becoming pope, Leo was known for being quiet and thoughtful. He was quite different from his predecessor, Pope Francis, who was known for speaking his mind and breaking traditions. But Leo's social media activity might be changing that. He isn't new to causing a stir with his posts. Back in March, he criticized Vice President JD Vance for using a Catholic concept to support deportation efforts. He has also been critical of President Donald Trump's immigration policies. His posts have sparked controversy, especially among far-right groups. Even his family has made waves with their social media posts. His brother, Louis Prevost, has shared controversial posts about political figures. Some people might be surprised by Leo's active use of social media. He wasn't a frequent poster before becoming pope. But his willingness to use this platform to share his views might be a sign of things to come. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in his papacy. Will he continue to use social media to speak out on important issues? Or will he return to his more quiet and thoughtful ways? Only time will tell. One thing is for sure, though. Pope Leo XIV's social media debut has definitely gotten people's attention.