As the conclave begins today, social media has been hard at work already when it comes to turning the process of electing a successor to the late Pope Francis into something that feels more like the Met Gala and less like a secretive ritual.
How? Through memes.
Heresy for some; adding some lightness to an ancient ceremony featuring a lot of elderly men in robes for others. And for those who aren’t convinced by that second option, let’s not forget that it was Pope Francis who said: “There is faith in humour.”
Many are choosing to memeify the conclave through the film Conclave, which has seen a spike in viewership numbers since the death of Pope Francis, while others are trying to make light of what some are describing on TikTok as the “Sistine Chapel sleepover”…
“Let’s Go Girls”
“Being in a conclave sounds sick. just locked in a room with your absolute boys voting on which one of your friends is just gonna be the man until they die”
“i would have the best time at a conclave because it’s basically just a work convention where you get paid to gossip plot and scheme. god is literally demanding that you judge your coworkers. in his name we pray”
Aside from social media users – specifically Gen Z – adding their unique take to the proceedings, the internet has also found its winner: Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.
Indeed, Cardinal Tagle, 67, is often dubbed the “Asian Francis” for his warmth, apparent affability and his progressive views. Clips featuring Tagle have been going viral over the past week.
On TikTok, he has become everyone’s favourite. One viral video shows him joking that he knows only three Polish words: kielbasa (sausage), pierniczki (gingerbread) and vodka.
There are also several videos the cardinal singing along to John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ in 2019.
The clip received backlash from some conservative Catholics, including LifeSiteNews.
“Shocking”, reads a post on X of Cardinal Tagle singing along to ‘Imagine’. It described the song as an “atheist anthem rejecting religion, heaven, and Christ’s Kingship”.
“The song’s lyrics directly contradict Catholic doctrine… Is this scandal or scandalous ignorance?”
Many came to Tagle’s defense. One user commented: “The guy sang a song about world peace. If that’s really the most dirt you can dig up on him, he’d make an excellent pope.”
Another user added: “God forbid a pastor advocates for peace.”
Gen Z have fought back, championing and memeing the clip in support, and sharing other wholesome clips of Tagle, including one of him dancing in a church.
Others have created edits to show their support and one video titled “Tagle core” has gone viral, showing the Filipino cardinal singing, laughing and dancing.
Still, some traditionalists aren’t impressed, including Filipino papal contender Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, who warned against turning sacred rituals into public spectacles.
In a Facebook post, he cautioned against using social media to campaign for favourites.
“Creating or sharing campaign videos, even with good intentions, risks turning a sacred discernment into a worldly spectacle. It may inadvertently pressure or politicise the conscience of the electors, and distract from the silence and prayer needed to truly hear the voice of the Spirit,” he wrote.
While some Catholic circles bemoan the conclave’s “irreverent” memeification and continue to raise ethical questions about making light of sacred traditions, it’s worth reminding that the last conclave took place in 2013, when social media was in its infancy.
Amused or shocked by the viral content, it can’t be too surprising in 2025.
The phenomenon only shows how Gen Z deal with serious events by creating online moments. There’s joy – and catharsis – to be found in that. As long as the memes don’t spread disinformation, there’s also a case to be made for the language of memeification actually helping the Church, as it modernises a sacred but archaic ritual. Furthermore, online buzz is now a potential gateway into more serious conversations.
So before anyone cries blasphemy, it’s worth not condemning humorous content from the get-go. To do so would only prove that the Church is averse to evolve with the times.
And who would castigate a man with such a lovely singing voice and an infectious laugh?
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22.
Some would do well to crack a Bible.
