A San Antonio influencer has a front-row seat to the cultural shift she says she’s witnessing around faith and how to practice it.
SAN ANTONIO — Catholic influencers from around the world gathered at the Vatican this week for a first-of-its-kind celebration of digital evangelization.
Among the hundreds invited was Diana Lopez of San Antonio, known on Instagram as @thesaintjunkie, who has built a faith-based following of nearly 30,000 on the platform.
The event, dubbed the Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers, was the first time the Catholic Church formally recognized and celebrated social media evangelists. Pope Leo XIV addressed attendees during a Mass at the Vatican, calling for authenticity and reflection in the digital realm.
“Especially as the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence will mark a new era in the lives of individuals and society as a whole,” the pope said during the service. “This is a challenge we must face: reflecting on the authenticity of our witness, on our ability to listen and speak, and on our capacity to understand and be understood.”
For Lopez, the invitation to Rome was a confirmation of her work creating Catholic content for a digital audience. She said she’s witnessed a cultural shift within the church—one that now embraces content creators as part of its mission.
“I think, maybe for a while, the church was trying not to enter into that space,” Lopez said. “But really, through the Holy Spirit, realizing that it is a necessity, if you want to reach people—people on the outside or that don’t feel included.”
Lopez, who founded The Saint Junkie brand to share the truth of the Catholic faith online, said the pope reminded the group that their mission goes beyond likes and clicks.
“How we should remember even though it is content creation and it is social media, it is very important for us as Christians and evangelizers to remember that ultimately it is about encountering each person,” she said. “We really should pray and reframe our mindset.”
A highlight of the trip came when Pope Leo personally approached Lopez and her family following the Mass. He offered a blessing for their 8-month-old daughter.
“It was unlike any experience I have ever had,” she said.