VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Leo XIV has taken over the Vatican’s official social media handles, with a first Instagram post on Tuesday repeating the first words he said to the world as pope: “Peace be with you all!” The @Pontifex – Pope Leo XIV post featured some of the photos that have documented the first days of history’s first American pope.

The school's students and staff expressed shock and excitement following the recent election of the first-ever American pope.

On Monday, Pope Leo XIV gave his first press conference at the Vatican, where he called for peace and free speech as he addressed over 6,000 journalists. As he was walking out and shaking hands with members of the press, the new pontiff, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, gave a very cryptic answer to a reporter’s question that named the U.S.