The first papal conclave of the social media and internet era has given us a new level of excitement and humor. In Europe, thousands of people participated in a conclave fantasy game, trying to predict who the next pope would be. Betting odds were also placed on the outcome, proving that if there’s anything people won’t bet on, it’s hard to say.
The moment came on Thursday when the papal conclave released white smoke from the Sistine Chapel, signaling that a new pope had been chosen. As expected, the reaction in the U.S. was swift, with many making Arizona Cardinals “the pick is in” jokes, referencing the NFL Draft.
It didn’t stop there—the NFL also joined in the fun, posting a “the pick is in” photo of its own on the league’s X account. It’s hard to ignore how strange and humorous this moment is in today’s digital age.
