Speaking at an event for young Catholics in Panama over the weekend called World Youth Day, Pope Francis attempted to be #relatable by dubbing the Virgin Mary history’s first influencer.
“Mary became the most influential woman in history,” the Pope’s Twitter account shared in tandem with his remarks at the conference, which was reportedly attended by 600,000 people. “Without social networks, she became the first ‘influencer’: the ‘influencer’ of God.”
The comparison rings slightly askew given that the word influencer — at least used in a digital media context — typically serves as more of a catch-all term to describe the eclectic work of being a YouTuber, with the influence component often referring to marketing capabilities. In his literal interpretation, the Pope puts Mary her in the same breath as controversial figures like Jake Paul and PewDiePie — given that the career title of influencer still isn’t widely respected or understood.
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The Pope’s curious remarks aren’t the only way in which he has showcased his affinity for digital media in recent days. Ahead of World Youth Day, the religious leader also endorsed a free app called Click To Pray by launching his own profile on the platform. Click To Pray, which is available in six languages, features a monthly prayer intention from the Pope, as well as a network where users can share their prayers with one another.
With her “yes”, Mary became the most influential woman in history. Without social networks, she became the first “influencer”: the “influencer” of God. #Panama2019
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 27, 2019
