Pope Francis posted his first photo on Instagram on Saturday, a picture showing him kneeling down praying, on the third anniversary of his inauguration as Holy Father, AFP reported.

"I want to walk with you along the way of God's mercy and tenderness," he wrote on the photo-sharing platform, under the account name franciscus.

"Instagram will help to tell the story of a papacy, letting everyone who wants to come along and get to know the papacy of Pope Francis," Vatican communications chief Dario Vigano said.

Photos from Vatican daily the Osservatore Romano will be posted, as well as brief videos, "to try to show details which demonstrate... aspects of intimacy and inclusion which Pope Francis lives every day," he said.

Pope Francis met Instagram chief and founder Kevin Systrom at the Vatican last month.

Instagram, which was acquired by social media giant Facebook in 2012, had over 400 million users as of the end of February.

(With inputs from AFP)