The Internet Is Crazy About the Papal Conclave — and It’s Delightfully Odd

Since the Hot Priest from Fleabag induced a collective swoon, the internet hasn’t been this enthralled by religious matters. With 133 cardinals assembling in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday to commence the sacred task of electing a new pope, the online reaction wasn’t one of subdued reverence; it was filled with memes, fervent fandom, and an unexpected zeal for time-honored Vatican customs.

Online, the atmosphere is a bizarre mixture of grave liturgy and fandom culture. Individuals are choosing favorites as if it’s some reality competition, creating fan edits of cardinals, and dissecting age-old ceremonies as if they were scenes from Edward Berger’s movie Conclave. It’s partly respectful, partly absurd — and utterly mesmerizing.

And it’s not solely devout Catholics tuning in. The conclave has morphed into a full-scale internet phenomenon. Imagine March Madness brackets, but involving cardinals. Picture thirst tweets about clerical attire and Gregorian chants remixed alongside club beats like Charli XCX’s Brat. The papal succession has become a fandom extravaganza — and the internet is lapping it up.

Central to this digital devotion is @PopeCrave, a fan account that started as a tribute to the Conclave film and has now grown into a center for all things papal. With posts that merge film fandom with Vatican gossip, Pope Crave shares everything from fancams and cassock comparisons to “liturgical drip” analyses. The account even boasts self-declared “correspondents” in Vatican City, live-tweeting cardinal arrivals and smoke sightings with the same excitement as a red carpet event.

So why is the internet — not particularly known for its in-depth understanding of Catholic traditions — so captivated by the conclave?

Part of the allure is the drama. The conclave possesses all the elements of quality television: covert meetings, ancient customs, political intrigue, and a world-altering decision made behind closed doors. Combine intricate vestments, centuries of customs, and the legendary chimney of the Sistine Chapel, and you’ve constructed a narrative that rivals Succession or Game of Thrones — with a hint of Mean Girls and significantly more incense.

The swift pace of the process also plays a role. Unlike contemporary political elections that drag on for ages, the conclave is often decided in mere days — sometimes even hours. It’s a high-stakes event with a definitive beginning, middle, and end, perfectly suited for the internet’s fleeting attention spans. There’s no need to follow a prolonged campaign; just keep an eye out for the smoke color.

Then there’s the irony. Much of the internet’s intrigue begins with a meme or a quip, but swiftly evolves into real engagement. What starts as playful cosplay for canon law develops into a full-blown obsession, complete with favorite cardinals, fan rivalries, and intricate theories. It’s not that the internet has suddenly embraced faith — it’s that it has discovered a captivating story, rich with symbolism, spectacle, and style.

Whether this interest diminishes once the white smoke appears or persists well after the new pope is selected, one thing is certain: the conclave has ensnared the internet’s fancy. In an era of endless scrolling and fragmented focus, even the most time-honored rituals can go viral — and occasionally, they do, clad in robes.