Smoke, Seagulls, & Screens: A Papal Election Like No Other

Chances are, you’ve already scrolled past dozens of headlines and hot takes about the 2025 papal conclave and the historic election of the first American pope. If you’re anything like me, you were glued to your phone—or whatever livestream you could find—waiting for that white smoke to billow.

And maybe, like millions of others, you saw the seagull perched above the Sistine Chapel chimney as more than 130 cardinals cast their votes below. Before the bells even rang, the seagull was screen-captured, memed, and instantly shared. The virality of this lone bird says a lot: the 2025 conclave didn’t just unfold in Rome—it unfolded online.

Even for those of us watching from afar—lay people praying and refreshing news apps—the digital world pulsed alongside the sacred silence inside the Sistine Chapel. Like the seagull, the conclave had gone viral.

Conclave Tradition

Underneath Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel on May 8th, the cardinals entered into a deep, holy silence—one required by canon law and shaped by centuries of tradition. According to Universi Dominici Gregis, this silence isn’t optional; each cardinal swears a solemn oath to keep everything confidential. Any breach or outside influence leads to automatic excommunication (see Code of Canon Law 359).

To protect this sacred moment, Vatican security and the Pontifical Swiss Guard deploy advanced measures: signal jammers, satellite blockers, and anti-drone technology make sure there are no external disruptions. 

It’s in this silence that the Church trusts the Holy Spirit to guide the cardinals toward choosing the next pope. As St. John of the Cross reminds us: 

The Father spoke one Word, which was His Son, and this Word He always speaks in eternal silence, and in silence must it be heard by the soul.

The New Face of the College

This conclave introduced us to a College of Cardinals that is more globally connected than ever before. Of the 135 cardinal electors, 15 are under the age of 60. Among the youngest are Cardinal Américo Aguiar, 51, from Portugal; Cardinal Mykola Bychok, 45, a Ukrainian Greek Catholic bishop serving in Australia; and Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, 50, a missionary and Apostolic Prefect in Mongolia.

On social media, we caught glimpses of these Gen X and Millenial shepherds: selfies of cardinals smiling together inside St. Peter’s Basilica, clips of them traveling for pastoral duties, and videos they’ve shared with the People of God.

Growing up, I had a rather stark view of priests—not through anyone’s fault, but because I saw them as “too” holy. In contrast, I felt small, simple, and unworthy, which is, in many ways, true before the majesty of God. But that youthful awe quickly became a barrier to connection.

The 2025 papal conclave gently reminded me how untrue that perception really was—even for the Holy Father himself. These men are human. They scroll, post, and navigate the same noisy digital world we all do. And in that shared humanity, there is comfort: whether we realize it or not, we are all connected.

If you searched #ConclaveCore at any point during the election of Pope Leo XIV, you would have found an explosion of creative content: glittering, looping fancams of cardinals like Tagle, Zuppi, and Pizzaballa set to pop music; memes comparing cardinals to Met Gala guests; Gen Z narrations of papal trivia.

One one hand, it is sobering—and sad—to witness how easily we reduce the sacred to spectacle. In the lead-up to Pope Leo XIV’s election, it often felt like we were watching a political campaign or a game show, not discerning the Vicar of Christ. Headlines speculated. Commentators ranked “frontrunners.” Content creators peddled papabile gossip like they were handing out trading cards.

We forget that these are not celebrities. They are servants—flawed, faithful men striving to shepherd God’s people. And the papacy is not a prize. It is a cross.

Brothers and sisters, I would like that our first great desire be for a united Church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world.
— Pope Leo XIV, Inaugural Homily

Then, on the other hand, there are the numbers. It would be easy to dismiss all the buzz as novelty. But the world has been watching, engaging, and responding:

• Social media frenzy: Though exact public data on #ConclaveCore engagement is limited, the 2025 conclave clearly captivated a new generation across Instagram, X (Twitter), and TikTok. Faith content on social media platforms has been rising steadily, drawing millions of views through viral posts and trending hashtags.
• Conversions are up: In the wake of Pope Francis’ passing and the election of Pope Leo XIV, Google searches for “How do I become Catholic?” soared by 373%. Want to see the rise of new Catholics around the U.S. by the numbers? Click here.
• Young people are paying attention: More and more teens and twenty-somethings are discovering the beauty of Catholic tradition, liturgy, and sacramental life. While digital platforms often serve as their introduction, it’s the richness of the Faith itself that keeps many rooted and growing.

From Peter’s Chair to Your Feed

Pope Leo XIV—born Robert Francis Prevost, an Augustinian from Chicago—brings a missionary heart shaped by service in South America. In his first week, his Instagram account (@Pontifex) gained over 13 million followers. His first photo carousel was captioned “Peace be with you all!” and included snapshots from his first Mass as pope as well as sweet moments with children in St. Peter’s Square.

He’s already made it clear that he wants to continue Pope Francis’ vision for this Jubilee year, including the planned Jubilee for Digital Missionaries in late July, which invites Catholics who evangelize online to Rome for formation and fellowship. Digital tools like “Let’s Sing with the Pope” have been launched—a series of short-form videos from the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music (PIMS) to help Catholics learn Gregorian chant, Latin hymns, and sacred music to sing along with the Holy Father.

Pope Leo’s message echoes the message of Pope Francis: the Church must go where the people are.

As Vatican commentator Juan Tridente noted, the real challenge isn’t tech itself but how we use it. “The conclave has always been a different kind of time,” he said. “It is not about isolating oneself from the world, but about setting it aside for a moment in order to look inward with greater clarity and freedom.”

The Mission Continues

How good, powerful, and wonderful is our God! He truly makes all things new. He is the wonder worker, the way maker, the promise keeper. Even in a world addicted to instant gratification, Christ breaks through. He is never outdone.

So here we are: from St. Peter’s Chair to your feed, from incense to Instagram. The mission continues—to proclaim Christ crucified and risen. And as Pope Leo XIV reminds us, the world is watching. Let us be witnesses worth watching.

Behold, I am doing something new; now it springs forth—do you not perceive it? 

— Isaiah 43:19

Listen to episode #12 on “A Resounding Yes!” with guest Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe hosted by our founder and creative director, Christina Sabo. Christina and Fr. Patrick discuss the events during the conclave and papal election and touch on modern media involvement. Listen below or through your favorite listening platforms. Make sure to subscribe here to receive our bulletins to receive updates in your inbox on new episodes and all content through a Catholic and creative lens from Paloma & Fig!

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With over eight years of experience and a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing, Marge Hynes is a dynamic writer whose portfolio spans SEO-driven copywriting, journalism, and marketing—a versatile skill set that allows her to craft compelling content for Paloma & Fig’s projects.

Marge’s Catholic faith serves as the cornerstone of her work. She approaches storytelling with thoughtfulness and a deep appreciation for the Lord’s own creative power. Her love of the written word shines through in every project, helping clients articulate their message with clarity, heart, and purpose.
When she’s not writing, Marge can be found leading praise and worship, diving into theological books, or exploring the great outdoors with her loyal dog, Augustine (Auggie for short).