Catholic Church elects Cardinal Robert F. Prevost as new pope
- On Thursday afternoon, white smoke indicated the election of Cardinal Robert F. Prevost as the new pope.
- The conclave included 133 cardinals voting in a highly secretive process at the Vatican.
- The event has inspired significant social media engagement, marking a new era of youthful interest in church traditions.
In a significant event at the Vatican, a conclave convened to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025. This conclave included 133 cardinals who participated in secretive voting, adhering to the requirement of achieving a two-thirds majority to elect the new leader of the Catholic Church. On Thursday afternoon, white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel, indicating the selection of a new pope. Cardinal Robert F. Prevost was announced as the new pontiff, making history as the first pope from North America, and he chose to be called Pope Leo XIV. In addition to the traditional aspects of the conclave, social media played a major role in shaping public interest around the papal election. Many TikTok users created humorous content regarding the proceedings, dubbing the event the "Catholic Superbowl". This surge of creativity attracted numerous viewers, even among those with no religious beliefs. Content creators produced memes, parodies, and discussions, which catered to a younger audience that in many cases was witnessing such an event for the first time since the previous conclave in 2013. The app Fantapapa gained popularity during this time, which allowed users to engage in a fantasy-style game about predicting the next pope. The game's creators had not anticipated the vast reach it would achieve, with hundreds of thousands participating globally. Bettors were also active, with significant sums wagered on unregulated platforms despite betting on papal elections being disallowed in official U.S. sportsbooks. The election process engaged people from various backgrounds, reflected through social media interactions. The new pope's background and decisions were closely monitored, with individuals expressing hope that he would be aligned with their views on social issues. The wider reaction underscored the blending of seriousness and entertainment in a momentous occasion, signaling a shift in how such traditions could be perceived by different demographics, notably younger generations who are increasingly engaged in dialogues about global leadership and values.