Instagram CEO Meets With the Pope to Discuss the Power of Images

By Carly Okyle Feb 26, 2016
Newsva | Instagram

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Sure, those #nofilter images of your tropical vacation are cool, but they can’t beat a selfie with His Holiness at the Apostolic Palace.

Google’s Eric Schmidt had his 15 minutes with the Holy See, and now Instagram’s founder and CEO Kevin Systrom had the opportunity for some face time with Pope Francis when the two met Friday to discuss the power of images. Systrom illustrated his point by bringing a book of 10 images from the photo sharing platform, Time reports.The book included pictures from the earthquake in Nepal, the protests in Baltimore and the refugee crisis in the Middle East.

Related: Barack Obama Is the Most Popular World Leader on Instagram

Last year, Systrom told Time, “We believe you can see the world happening in real time through Instagram. And I think that’s true whether it’s Taylor Swift’s 1989 tour … or an important moment like a protest overseas, or a march like “Je suis Charlie’ in Paris … [At] the end of the day, there’s no better way to consume what’s happening in the world other than images and video.”

Related: 5 Ways to Create More Compelling and Viral Instagram Content

Accompanying Systrom were two other Instagram executives: Charles Porch, who is in charge of the company’s global creative programs, and David Swan, head of communications.

on Twitter

Sure, those #nofilter images of your tropical vacation are cool, but they can’t beat a selfie with His Holiness at the Apostolic Palace.

Google’s Eric Schmidt had his 15 minutes with the Holy See, and now Instagram’s founder and CEO Kevin Systrom had the opportunity for some face time with Pope Francis when the two met Friday to discuss the power of images. Systrom illustrated his point by bringing a book of 10 images from the photo sharing platform, Time reports.The book included pictures from the earthquake in Nepal, the protests in Baltimore and the refugee crisis in the Middle East.

Related: Barack Obama Is the Most Popular World Leader on Instagram

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Carly Okyle

Assistant Editor, Contributed Content
Carly Okyle is an assistant editor for contributed content at Entrepreneur.com.

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