In the hours after Pope Francis’ death on the official social networks of the Pontiff, the same message appeared everywhere: “Apostolic Sites Vacans”. The symbol of the Holy See has also changed together with this sentence: now the papal tiara has been replaced by a basilica.
In 2025 the Pope’s death is also a question from face on social media. Pope Francis died today, April 21, 2025. Probably for a stroke. Now the long list of liturgies has started with which the Church has faced this event for hundreds of years. There will be the funeral, then the conclave and therefore the election of a new pope. In all this in 2025 you must also think about social network.
Pope Francis could count on one Account network with millions of followers on all platforms. The account on x in English language he had arrived at 18.3 million followers. Then there are also those in individual languages. 18.6 million For the Spanish one. 5.2 million for the Italian one. And again. The Pope had an Instagram account, Franciscus, from 10 million followers.
At the moment all Twitter accounts have changed its name. Now only a formula in Latin appears Apostolic Sites Vacans. Above a symbol, consisting of two keys. The same writing also appears in the only Instagram Story published today by the official account. The meaning of this Latin formula is “vacant apostolic seat”.
Pope Francis died, goodbye to the first Argentine pontiff: he was 88 years old
What does “Apostolic Sites Vacans” mean
At the moment by the apostolic seat we mean the Diocese of Romethat holy venue led by the Pope who then also becomes the center of the Catholic Church. The formula is also found in the official documents with which the management of the days following the death of the pontiff is regulated. Documents that have been defined by Pope John Paul II and then updated by Benedict XVI. The title is the subtitle is: “Universes Dominici Gregis, about the holiday of the Apostolic See and the election of the Roman Pontiff”.
Also interesting to note too how the symbol has changed. The emblem of the Holy See is usually formed by Two keys united by one thread and dominated by a papal tiara. Now the tiara has been replaced by a basilica, in heraldic it indicates a red and yellow banner that indicates the presence of the papal authority on the church.
X | The writing that appears on the Vatican account X
