Pope Francis landed on U.S. soil for the first time last week on Tuesday, September 22. He has talked to victims of sexual abuse, spoke out about his views on immigration and gave several moving speeches across the country. However, the pope was also able to impact American culture in a way that is completely unintentional: he put the mobile phone revolution on giant display.
The last time a pope visited the United States was back in April 2008 when Pope Benedict XVI was still at the reigns of Catholicism. A lot has happened in seven years. Modern smartphones were only starting to become prevalent back then. Apple had just released the first iPhone less than a year ago and Android was still in development.
The change in our culture needs no explanation because photos of crowds swarming Pope Francis through his journey across America manage to say it all. Crowds glow with endless displays.
Arms up and finger on the shutter
https://twitter.com/sacca/status/647794790285766656/photo/1
More phones than faces
1000s of people raise their phones on 5th Ave. to capture a photo of Pope Francis #PopeInNYC: https://t.co/JG90G9Uw0K pic.twitter.com/E7ZfBFeyqs
— ABC News (@ABC) September 24, 2015
Spot the tablets
Everyone with their phones ready as Pope Francis gets closer. .@WKBW #PopeinPhilly pic.twitter.com/3hYEUZVQSD
— Jeff Russo (@JeffRussoWKBW) September 26, 2015
Pictures within pictures within pictures
It was a sea of cameras, phones and waving hands at the pope drove through Central Park #PopeInNY pic.twitter.com/JbVxRT9wr4
— Melissa Hayes (@MelissaMHayes) September 25, 2015
Philadelphia’s phones shine brighter than a halo
#Philly crowd erupts in cheers lift cell phones at sight of pope mobile #PopeInUS #PopeInPhilly #NDpope pic.twitter.com/Q2lmiyXaRj
— Víctor Manuel Ramos (@vmramos) September 26, 2015
Some even take photos of another display
https://twitter.com/MelanieGWest/status/647181461242646529
