Selfie with the Pope: How Recent Popes Embraced the Smartphone Practice to Connect with People in the Digital World

Lukasz Buksa; Magdalena Hodalska

doi:10.18290/kip2026.8

Published : 2026-06-29

Vol. 15 No. 1 (2026)

Selfie with the Pope: How Recent Popes Embraced the Smartphone Practice to Connect with People in the Digital World

Lukasz Buksa

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4309-2438

Magdalena Hodalska

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9620-5913

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18290/kip2026.8

Abstract

In the digital age, selfies have transformed from mere self-portraits into powerful tools for connection. This article discusses the phenomenon of taking selfies with the Pope, exploring how pontiffs of the digital era – Benedict XVI, Francis, and Leo XIV – have embraced this smartphone practice to engage with the faithful. This research examines the evolution of papal imagery, highlighting the shift from formal portraits to casual smartphone snapshots taken by the public. Commemorative photos with John Paul II still adorn many Polish homes, as cherished memories. Unlike selfies, these posed photographs captured encounters with the Pope, whose presence bridged the distance, while media portraits of Polish Pope maintained an air of reverence. It has changed since the advent of smartphones. This article traces how selfies with the Pope moved from novelty to expected practice and shows how the Pope’s closeness to people extend into digital spaces. Desk research of online news media reveals how outlets reported on self-portraits featuring the Pope and how the Pope’s image is shared in the digital realm. As many offline religious practices find expression online, the Pope's visibility in digital spaces aligns with the Church's commitment to walking alongside its people.

Keywords:

selfie, self-portrait, Pope, smartphone, papal imagery, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Francis, Leo XIV

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Buksa, L., & Hodalska, M. (2026). Selfie with the Pope: How Recent Popes Embraced the Smartphone Practice to Connect with People in the Digital World. Kościół I Prawo, 15(1), 119–138. https://doi.org/10.18290/kip2026.8

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