Check Out Pope Francis First Instagram Selfie That Stirred Up Mixed Reactions (Photo)

 

Although, people from all over the world were filled with joy after they spotted what appeared to be Pope Francis's first selfie on Instagram, there was however, one problem with the picture of the beaming Holy Father,  it wasn't real.

 

The 78-year-old's grinning face was posted to an Instagram account claiming to belong to the Vatican on Monday morning, with the caption purporting it was the pontiff's "first selfie".

 

Although the photo was "liked" more than 8,000 times in just four hours, it has emerged that the image is simply a screen grab from a video chat he did with young people around the world in September 2014.

 

The picture was notably absent from the Vatican's official account.

 

But many were still delighted by the hoax.

 

One person commented: "Thank you for this beautiful start to my day! Your smile brings so much joy."

 

But others were quick to point out that the Pope's "first selfie" was nothing of the sort.

 

See the selfie below...