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.

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Fans celebrate in the stands after Cape Verde defeated Eswatini in a World Cup qualifying soccer match at Estádio Nacional in Praia, Cape Verde, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, to clinch their qualification for the 2026 World Cup. (Cristiano Barbosa/AP)

Credit: AP