Digital presence and social media metrics of cardinals from the American continent, since the 2025 Conclave

This study analyzes the digital presence of the 37 cardinals from the American continent (23 from Latin America, 10 from the United States, and 4 from Canada) who participated in the 2025 Conclave. The rise of social media has turned influencers into key actors shaping public opinion, a dynamic where religious leaders also engage to project their visibility. The main objective was to examine their profiles on digital platforms to identify their reach, usage, and geographic relationship during this high-stakes political and social event.The methodology adopted a quantitative, descriptive, non-experimental, and cross-sectional design. Data collection took place between February 11 and April 21, 2025, recording variables such as account type, profile picture, official verification, and follower count.The results reveal a limited presence: 51% of the cardinals do not have personal social media profiles. Among those with digital activity, X (48.6%) and Facebook (45.9%) are the predominant platforms, followed by Instagram (29.7%), while TikTok and YouTube show marginal usage (5.4%). The accounts with the highest impact belong to Carlos Aguilar Retes (Mexico), Odilo Pedro Scherer (Brazil), and Raymond Leo Burke (United States). Notably, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, elected pope in May 2025, maintained a discreet profile with only 550 followers on X. Furthermore, institutional authenticity is low, as only 5.4% of the accounts were verified.In conclusion, the digital presence of American cardinals does not follow general generational trends, nor was it a determining factor in the papal election. However, it reflects the complex process of institutional adaptation by the Catholic Church to the contemporary communication ecosystem.