13-03-2015

​7.5 million tweets in 7 weeks: these are the statistics emerging from the Almawave study on the Pope and issues surrounding the Papacy

7.5 million tweets in 7 weeks: these are the statistics emerging from the Almawave of the AlmavivA Group study on the Pope and issues surrounding the Papacy. Every message from Francescoinspires social debate. For Twitter, he is the Pope of Mercy and Renewal

Rome, 13 March 2015 - Over seven million tweets gathered in seven weeks on the main issues surrounding Pope Francesco and the Papacy, just two years after his election. Almawave, the technological innovation company of the AlmavivA Group, conducted the #idueannidiFrancesco [two years of Francesco] analysis to understand how far and which of the Pope's messages had taken root in the social forum. Constant monitoring, 24/7, of all conversations on the issue from 20 January until 8 March 2015, organised over 4 categories and more than a thousand key concepts. Four languages were reviewed using sophisticated statistical algorithms. A total number of 7,530,574 tweets were collected, most of which were in English (5,455,279), followed by Spanish (1,364,594), Portuguese (564,021) and Italian (146,680).

The Pope

For the social population, Francesco is the Pope of Mercy (20.1%) and Renewal (18.8%): these are the terms most associated with the Papacy in all the languages that were analysed. For 14.6% of conversations, he is the Pope of Joy, of Meeting (13.9%) and Hope (13%). Francesco is thus perceived as a Pope that combines humanity and spirituality, embracing the faithful, including those that are marginalised and accepting diversity.

A reforming Pope that appeals for a new Church, not only in terms of reorganising the Roman Curia, but also in rediscovering the deep-rooted values of Catholicism to defeat the globalisation of indifference and culture of waste.

Messages that have left their mark

It becomes quite obvious from the study that Pope Francesco has a marked impact on Twitter with every speech, stimulating discussion and comments from all corners of the globe. The trend in this regard shows peaks in conversations corresponding with the Sunday Angelus. The maximum peak over the period under consideration recorded 306,693 tweets between the 7 and 9 February, with the Pope's video message for Expo 2015, regarding the economy of inequality, the Sunday Angelus and his speech to the Pontifical Cultural Council on the role of women.

The meaning of the study

“Almawave, the technological innovation company of the AlmavivA Group, uses its Big Data analysis platforms to understand the present, find current trends and observe their dynamics,” explained Valeria Sandei, CEO of Almawave. “The objective of the #idueannidiFrancesco study was to assess to what extent the messages referring to the Pope – innovative in their style, use of words and means of communication – had been accepted and were reflected in the world of the web. Furthermore two years after his election, we wanted to understand how many and which of the Pope's messages had taken root – “and were live” - on the social network that is especially sensitive to current affairs. Our study showed that the Pontiff left a marked impression on Twitter and that his speeches create peaks in conversation, stimulating spontaneous and in-depth debate, inspired by his words.”
“It is interesting - concludes Sandei - to see how the concept terminology that Francesco uses to interpret and typify the basic themes of his Papacy is reflected in these 140-character exchanges (existential suburbs, globalisation of indifference, culture of waste)”.

The Pontiff's key issues

The Pope deals with four main issues: Renewal (61.7%), Family (16.7%), the Earth as our Common Home (12.4%) and Poverty (9.2%).
The dominant theme to emerge is the concept of the Church's Renewal and his vision for society. The subject involves the majority of tweets collected: it is the issue that is discussed the most in all languages, especially in Portuguese. It is subdivided into the following subjects: the rediscovery of original Catholic values through prayer (39.5% of conversations); the reform of the Curia (24.4%); the role of the Missionary Church, defined as being “out-going” and therefore directed at the needy (16.9%); and the new “paternal” approach to social categories at risk of discrimination, like gay people (10%).

The issue of Family is mainly debated in Italian, and mentioned especially regarding the Natural Family (71%), considered as a privileged environment, where the first lessons in communication, sharing and forgiveness are learnt. This is followed by the subject of Procreation (14.2%) which should be responsible; and the Pope's open attitude towards “de facto unions” (9.7%), imperfect forms of the family. The crisis of the family (4.9%).

The issue of the Earth as our Common Home is mentioned on Twitter mainly in the context of the Papa's condemnation of conflict and violence (41.2%). Many conversations centre around violence against women, especially mutilation, and that in the domestic environment. The answer is to be found in dialogue (31.8%), the antidote to violence. 16.8% of conversations revolve around respecting and caring for Creation (at the heart of the Papal Encyclical), fighting against all depletion and waste of the environment, a earthly resource. In fourth place was religious freedom at 10.2%.

The issue of Poverty is closely linked to the concept of existential suburbs (67.7%). Money is a recurring subject (19.2%): there are a number of references on Twitter to the Pope recommending that today's society should not become a slave to money, intended as the devil and ultimate evil. Some conversations around money criticise the Vatican, considered to be one of the richest countries in the world. Reference is also made to the Pope's warning to avoid a culture of waste (6.3%) and the globalisation of indifference (5.4%).