Ever found yourself deep in a late-night scroll, when suddenly an image of Jesus or the Virgin Mary pops up with sparkling stars, glowing clouds, maybe even a caption saying “Bless your day, share this”? Or perhaps a prayer card of Padre Pio, Saint Anthony, Saint Francis, or other beloved saints encircled by digital flowers and angels? Beautiful, moving stuff–and let’s be honest, many of us have hit that share button “just because.”
But here’s the real question: does clicking “like,” dropping a heart, or reposting a Bible verse count as authentic evangelization? I would say, not exactly. Because evangelization online is far more than pretty pictures and quick reactions.
The Digital Continent and Pope Benedict XVI’s Vision
As early as 2009, Pope Benedict XVI described this vast online space as the digital continent, addressing the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. Even then, he recognized we were entering a revolution–not just technological, but cultural, spiritual, and deeply human.
The Church carries out what we could define as a "diaconate of culture" on the current "digital continent", moving forward to proclaim the Gospel, the only word that can save mankind.
Pope Benedict xvi
Fast forward to today, and that continent is alive with a new kind of missionary. They don’t wear sandals or travel dusty roads. Instead, they journey with keyboards, cameras, and–most importantly–open hearts. These are the Digital Missionaries: men and women who accept Jesus’ invitation to “go into all the world,” living it out in Instagram reels, TikTok feeds, YouTube streams, and podcast episodes.
Catholic Influencers and the Rise of Digital Missionaries
The Church has been calling us to step outside our comfort zones, and digital missionaries are answering. They listen, engage, encourage, and bring Christ into spaces that often feel noisy, lonely, or chaotic. Sometimes it’s a 15-second reel, a short blog, or a quick podcast that sparks hope and then the Holy Spirit does the rest.
Of course, there are skeptics. Some roll their eyes: “Seriously, Catholic influencers?” But the Vatican itself has affirmed their role. In 2023, the Dicastery for Communication released Towards Full Presence: A Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Media. The document makes it clear: real digital ministry rests on three pillars: authenticity, witness, and communion. It’s not about follower counts. It’s about being a credible sign of love, dialogue, and Gospel-rooted presence.
Evangelization on Social Media: Meeting People Where They Are
Authentic evangelization online means understanding the culture: its memes, jokes, anxieties, and pace. It means meeting people where they already spend time and walking alongside them. The Church is also leaning in, offering training and formation so these missionaries can serve with both competence and sincerity.
Above all, evangelization online is about humanity. It’s about love, listening, and presence. It means not just being “online” but truly being present—with awareness, preparation, and a missionary heart.
The Jubilee 2025 and Global Catholic Digital Evangelization
A milestone moment is the Jubilee Year 2025, when, for the first time, hundreds of digital evangelizers from across the globe gathered in Rome. TikTok creators, Instagram storytellers, YouTubers, bloggers–you name it–came together to learn, share, and celebrate the joy of the Gospel through modern platforms rooted in ancient faith.
The Jubilee team summed it up beautifully: being a missionary of hope means carrying the Good News into every corner, especially the digital one—spreading the light of faith and transforming lives with messages of love.
A Missionary Church for the Digital Age
As Pope Francis reminded us during the Synod on Synodality, the Church cannot abandon the digital world. A truly missionary Church today is one that goes out, embraces, and welcomes even in the online sphere.
So here’s the question for us: what are we doing with our feeds? Are we chasing likes for ourselves or pointing people toward Christ?
Because in the end, evangelization isn’t about slick graphics or viral stunts. It’s about love, charity, and presence. It’s choosing to plant light where there’s darkness, truth where there’s confusion, and hope where it’s desperately needed.
Evangelizing online isn’t about slick graphics or viral stunts. It’s about love, it’s about charity. It’s choosing to plant light where there’s darkness, truth where there’s confusion, and hope where it’s desperately needed. Let’s share with heart, with respect, with joy. Because at its core, that’s the mission: transforming lives with the unstoppable love of Christ—right where the world is scrolling.
*This is an edited English version of an Italian original written by the same author. The title of the original is: "Oltre il “Mi Piace”: L’Evangelizzazione autentica nel Continente Digitale." In Il Cooperatori Paolino” (Ita) no. 4 Oct-Nov-Dec 2025.
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