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May Madness

May Madness

May 06, 2025

Why Is This Conclave Different From Others?

When I think back to the last conclave in 2013, the world was completely different. TikTok didn’t exist, Instagram was still just a place to share photos, and we weren’t fresh off the heels of an Oscar-winning film literally called Conclave. No matter what industry you’re in, this is a significant moment to reflect on the intersection of tradition and how we share news with each other in a digital world.

Now you’re really starting to realize that it’s been 12 years since the last election.

The Conclave Is Having a Cultural Moment on Social Media

I’ve seen more content about this conclave than ever before, and I’ve never come across as many pope fan edits as I am now (one of my favorite accounts to come out of all this is PopeCrave). One thing that stands out compared to previous years is how much information is now available explaining what the conclave is and how it works. I’ve even seen TikToks breaking down who the actual frontrunners are to become the next pope.

Here is a list of the 10 popular frontrunners.

Because of the in-depth coverage on social media, behind-the-scenes clips from the conclave have become more accessible than ever. In 2013, the only news about the conclave came from traditional media outlets. Now, we’re seeing what’s actually happening in real time. I’m seeing countless people share clips of frontrunners, and it’s clear from the comments just how much influence these videos are having on an international audience.

What’s Different About the Conclave This Year?

Three things come to mind when I look through the list of nominees. First, many of them have large followings online (Tagle has over 600K followers on his verified Facebook page). Last week alone, Tagle had around 150K mentions on Twitter, followed by Turkson with 77K and Ambongo with 33K. Even accounting for how much larger social platforms have become since 2013, the presence of cardinals on these platforms has noticeably grown.

The second is the shift in conclave electors from Europe to the rest of the world. In 2013, 52% of electors were from European countries; in 2025, that number has dropped to just 39%. Pope Francis played a significant role in driving this shift.

The last thing I want to point out is the significant increase in viewership of Catholic-related media—most notably, a 283% increase in views of Conclave on Netflix over the past two weeks. People in the industry are calling it “The Francis Effect.” And it’s not just Conclave, The Two Popes on Netflix saw a 400% spike in viewership as well.

This Doesn’t Happen Often in Our Lifetime

Since I’ve been alive, I’ve only seen three popes: John Paul II, Benedict, and Francis. This is a significant cultural moment, not just for Catholics around the world, but for everyone. This is nearly 2,000 years of history that we’re still getting to witness today. I don’t think Saint Peter would have imagined that we’d have pope memes.

The Big Takeaway…

The last time we had a pope elected we didn’t even have TikTok. So much has happened in the last 12 years that makes the way we’re watching this election much different from when Francis was elected. Aside from social media, we’re also seeing a shift from European-centric candidates to ones from all over the world. I’m still holding out for an American pope in my lifetime, but I think we have a better chance of winning the World Cup.