Why am I Digitally Tracking the Pope?

As Pope Leo XIV steps into the spotlight, his digital presence becomes a cornerstone of his tenure.

When the white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel, heralding a new pope, my first reaction was to tune into the TV to visualize this pivotal moment. Yet, my curiosity soon took me to social media, anticipating a quicker influx of information about him, along with a predictable surge of memes.

Indeed, memes appeared rapidly, even surpassing those spawned by Pope Francis because the new pope was American. Meet Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV from Chicago — a city whose culture resonated perfectly within America's meme sphere. Questions arose about his tastes: Did he drink Malort? Was he aligned with the Cubs or the Sox? Perhaps God might favor the Knicks in the NBA playoffs, given his Villanova roots. Following this, I expected articles detailing his history, beliefs, and leadership style.

Then, a retweeted screenshot caught my attention on an X account owned by @drprevost. Over the last few months, three retweets linked to pieces critically eyeing Trump’s immigration decrees. They weren't Prevost’s explicit thoughts, but they suggested a glimpse into his mindset — a peek into his priorities and engagement during the pre-papacy era. A MAGA backlash seemed inevitable.

I paused in reflection.

I wasn’t raised within Catholic traditions; my spiritual background is more aligned with a fading adherence to Buddhism. However, the Catholic Church has always mesmerized me: its storied past, vast theology, artistic finesse, and political dynamics intrigue me. The allure of the Vatican as an ethereal connection between earth and divine persists.

That's why it still shocks me that so quickly after his election, I could gather so much about Pope Leo XIV through his actions online — even more than crafted Vatican announcements or interviews with those close to him.

His previous internet activity revealed his values: a supporter of gun control, welcoming Syrian refugees, standing against DACA’s dissolution, denouncing the Charlottesville tragedy, and urging climate action from Trump. I uncovered that he was once a Republican on paper, only to stumble upon the fact that Illinois doesn’t track party registration. I wouldn’t be surprised to see his Venmo details pop up next.

Then, the curiosity led me to a more personal discovery: Pope Leo XIV’s own Facebook page.

A friend from an Augustinian school forwarded it to me, as it gained popularity among alumni familiar with Prevost. Though set to private, there was one public image: the future pope, self-assured in aviators and a windbreaker, atop a horse. I nearly shared this link innocently, but stopped wrestling with the invasion it implied. Despite its viral path, this was once a private life, poised to vanish under papal responsibilities.

Had this been anyone else, I might have shared without hesitation. Public scrutiny’s fairness applies to figures like politicians and celebrities, but examining aspects of the pope's digital past is different. The modern digital footprint was never expected for someone deemed God’s emissary on Earth, succeeding a line dating back two millennia.

Yet, for an American pope, this digital scrutiny seems fitting. We delve into a papal DNA through online traces as much as historical precedence and symbolic names. Whether it's his past political actions or sports affiliations, it's intrinsic to our American lens. This dig into his digital past mirrors our pursuit of spiritual insights and forecasts of future leadership.