Pope Leo XIV has received a rock star's welcome at the Vatican’s festival of Catholic influencers. He met Tuesday with priests, nuns and ordinary faithful who use their social media presence to preach and teach the faith.

Today, almost three months since the election of Pope Leo XIV, the media reality defies those expectations. Apart from Catholic outlets such as the National Catholic Register, which have naturally covered him with the intensity and enthusiasm demanded by their mission and audience, Leo has appeared about as rarely in the news as a new pope can.

The Vatican is welcoming more than a thousand social media influencers to Rome this week for an event intended to shape a new generation of Catholic missionaries.