This week, significant events captivated social media as many eagerly anticipated the election of the next Pope.
The Conclave—a highly secretive process for selecting a new Pope—kicked off on Wednesday after Pope Francis passed away on April 21st. A total of 133 Cardinals gathered to vote in private at the Vatican.
On Thursday afternoon, white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the election of a new Pope. The Conclave later announced that Cardinal Robert F. Prevost had been chosen to lead the approximately 1.4 billion members of the Catholic Church globally.
For some in Generation Z, this marked their first memory of a conclave, as they were just children during the last one in 2013, and they displayed an eager interest in these sacred traditions.
White smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel indicated the new Pope’s election.
Content creators on TikTok and Instagram playfully covered the strict voting process this week, likening it to a sports event, with some popular accounts dubbing it the “Catholic Super Bowl.”
This conclave spurred a wave of parodies, skits, and comparisons to reality shows and the NFL Draft, accumulating millions of views on social media.
Interestingly, even those without religious affiliations engaged with the selection of the new pope. Videos from non-believers, particularly those hoping for Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle to win, garnered over 4 million views.
Tagle, often referred to as the “Asian Pope Francis,” appeared to resonate with many progressive TikTok users due to his approachable demeanor and forward-thinking views.
Users on social media also drew inspiration from clips of the 2024 Oscar-winning film “Conclave,” which saw a surge in streaming since Pope Francis’ death in April. Some Cardinals, particularly those who had never participated in a conclave before, reportedly turned to the film for insights on Vatican procedures.
The White House got in on the online chatter about the new Pope as well, with President Donald Trump humorously sharing AI-generated images of himself as a Pope figure.
Prevost, the first Pope from North America, has taken the name Leo XIV.
Quick to respond, social media users playfully noted the new Pope’s American background, while some liberals expressed hope that he might align with their political views.
