A photo of the pontiff solemn and praying garnered thousands of comments and likes within just minutes of going live.

The new account is likely to further bolster Pope Francis' social media presence. He already has an active Twitter account, which he used to announce his "new journey" on Instagram Saturday.

It's unclear whether the move will bring the pope around to Facebook. He previously declined to join the social media site due to fears over people posting abusive comments, according to Quartz.

About the Author

Featured

Prosecutor Skandalakis has previously suggested that pursuing criminal charges against President Donald Trump may not be feasible until after he leaves office in 2029. (Craig Hudson/Politico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images