It’s a place we need to be communicating, webmaster says
The B.C. Catholic
The Archdiocese of Vancouver has joined Pope Francis and more than 400 million other users of Instagram.
The archdiocese launched an account on the photo and video-sharing service just days after the Pope joined Instagram March 19.
“Inspired by Pope Francis, we realized that it’s a place we need to be communicating,” said archdiocesan webmaster Makani Marquis.
“It underscores something we have strength in but are not using, which is the power of images and the beauty of images to affect people positively. Instagram is the perfect tool in the modern, social-media age to share that.”
The account, called “ArchdioceseofVancouver” and set up March 24, has only a handful of photos and only a handful of followers to date. So far, photos are being contributed by a few archdiocesan employees and The B.C. Catholic newspaper. Marquis says he plans to invite more people to contribute soon.
“It is sharing with people not just things that are beautiful, but sharing things that are fun and interesting, that point back to the beauty, truth, and wonders of our faith,” he said.
“We realize we have a lot of potential to be at the forefront of communicating powerfully in the digital age with media, photos, and graphics that come from a root of faith.”
Pope Francis has harnessed that power; his “Franciscus” account gained 1 million followers within 12 hours of its launch. Now he has more than 2.2 million.
The Archdiocese of Toronto and other dioceses in North America also have Instagram accounts.
Marquis invites readers to follow ArchdioceseofVancouver and “share with us your images of truth, beauty, and faith.”Z
