Pope Francis Ups Social Media-Savvy With First Instagram Post

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Pope Francis made Vatican social media history Saturday, posting for the first time on his newly-created Instagram account.

Pope Francis launched the account under the handle @Francisus on Saturday and had already garnered more than 558,000 followers by the early afternoon.

His first photo netted around 90,000 likes as of Saturday morning.

The pope has been known to be active in social media, boasting several official Twitter accounts in several languages already, each with hundreds of thousands of followers.

According to Vatican Radio, the Instagram account is meant to allow users to get to know the Pope better, as well as to serve as an outlet for the pontificate to share his messages of "tenderness and mercy."

Instagram CEO KEvin Systrom had warm words of welcome for the Pope, whom he met with several weeks earlier.

"Watching Pope Francis post his first photo to Instagram today was and incredible moment," Systrom wrote on his personal Instagram account alongside a photo of him shaking hands with Pope Francis. "...your messages of humility, compassion and mercy will leave a lasting mark."

Systrom met with the Pope several weeks ago.

So far, Pope Francis only has two photos posted, but there is sure to be more to come.

You can follow the Pope here.