Communication and public exposure of Pope Francis during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on coex- istence and human interactions, which led to the growth of digital communication as a mechanism for maintaining social relations. Religion did not escape the health requirements and had to adapt to the technological scenario. Pope Fran- cis, as a public figure and religious reference, used uncon- ventional forms and methods for his communication during the so-called lockdown. This descriptive study addresses the communication and public exposure of the pontiff during the lockdown, identifying the recipients of the pope’s message from a global and integral vision in different groups and social sectors. The research addresses the presence of the corona- virus issue as a central argument in speeches delivered, and the characteristics of public exposure during social distancing restrictions, from a relational communication perspective.