-Analysis-
BUENOS AIRES — The election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV may represent the culmination of a remarkable shift in global Catholicism, one that saw American-born innovation transform the way faith is practiced, shared and maintained in the digital age.
For the latest news & views from every corner of the world, Worldcrunch Today is the only truly international newsletter. Sign up here.
While Silicon Valley spent decades revolutionizing traditional industries, Catholic entrepreneurs applied similar innovation principles to religious practice. The result? A flourishing ecosystem of “spiritual startups” that achieved what church institutions sought: making ancient traditions accessible, engaging and relevant to modern believers.
The success of these initiatives is hard to overstate. Hallow, a Catholic meditation and prayer app, has been downloaded more than 20 million times in 150 countries, and its users have prayed through it more than 400 million times since its launch in 2018. It achieved the seemingly impossible feat of surpassing Netflix, TikTok and Instagram in the Apple App Store, especially during busy spiritual times like Lent, the season leading to Easter.
This North American approach to evangelization contrasts radically with European models, which often rely on diocesan funding, traditional publishing infrastructure and institutional sustainability. The U.S. model embraces market dynamics rather than resisting them.
Media empires
Perhaps nothing better demonstrates the power of Catholic innovation than the podcast empire of Ascension Press. The “Bible in a Year” podcast, hosted by Father Mike Schmitz, reached No. 1 on Apple Podcasts in every category twice, surpassing its secular competitors in entertainment, news and comedy. With more than 700 million downloads, it is the most successful religious podcast in history.
The formula was repeated with “The Catechism in a Year” and, more recently, with “The Rosary in a Year,” which reached No. 1 on Apple Podcasts in every category in its first week of release. What’s most remarkable is how these initiatives have transformed the daily religious practice of millions of people. The podcast format seamlessly integrates spiritual content into modern lifestyles.
Word on Fire has amassed an extraordinary 1.9 million YouTube subscribers.
An eloquent advocate of this model is Bishop Robert Barron, whose Word on Fire media organization reinvents the way Catholic thought relates to contemporary culture. What began as simple Sunday reflections on the New Testament has grown into a global multimedia empire reaching millions of people
Word on Fire has amassed an extraordinary 1.9 million YouTube subscribers and nearly 200 million views since 2007, creating more than 1,500 videos that combine theological depth with cultural relevance. Most significantly, Barron announced in January 2025 the founding of a religious order dedicated entirely to digital evangelization, a fusion of ancient Catholic structures with cutting-edge missionary work.
A landmark streaming deal
The Christian historical drama television series The Chosen, while not 100% Catholic, exemplifies another distinctly American approach to faith-based innovation. Its creator, Dallas Jenkins, bypassed traditional studios thanks to crowdfunding, raising more than $10 million from some 16,000 donors worldwide.
The series has become a global phenomenon, and Amazon MGM Studios recently secured exclusive U.S. streaming rights in a landmark deal. The fifth season alone grossed nearly $60 million at the box office, contributing to a global revenue of approximately $140 million in 55 countries. This may be the most American aspect: that faith-based content can compete in mainstream markets when executed with excellence.
Proper use
For many Catholics, Leo’s election may represent the validation of a U.S. contribution to global Catholicism, characterized by entrepreneurship, the embrace of technology and innovative approaches to ancient traditions.
Early signs appear promising, as Prevost emphasized in a 2012 presentation to the Synod of Bishops the importance of using modern communication tools for evangelization, highlighting social media platforms as particularly valuable when used properly.
Technology is neither intrinsically sacred nor profane.
Catholic innovation has already transformed the way millions of people live their faith around the world. The digital revolution preceded Leo’s papacy and will continue to evolve regardless of Vatican policy. The church Leo now leads is one in which millions pray daily through apps, discover scripture in podcasts and find community in digital spaces — these innovations would have been unthinkable just a few decades ago.
Technology is neither intrinsically sacred nor profane; it only becomes a vehicle of God’s grace when it is designed and used intentionally. The distinctive genius of American Catholic innovation has been precisely this intentionality: applying business methods to spiritual ends without compromising the essence of faith.
*Fernández is president of the free-market think-tank Fundación Bases.
