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Straits Times

Keeping Up with the conclave: Gen Z, TikTok and the Catholic Church

What started as jokes about the cardinals' robes turned into genuine discourse on the theological and political leanings of papal contenders. PHOTOS: @HEARTTHROBER/TIKTOK, @STUJOPH/TIKTOK – Behind the Vatican's unyielding walls, centuries of secrecy have cloaked the process of choosing the next leader of the Catholic Church. But not this year. Gen Z – the first generation made up entirely of digital natives born between 1997 and 2012 – are taking the papal conclave into the algorithm age, turning the process of electing a successor to the late Pope Francis into something that feels less like a sacred ritual and more like the coronation of Miss Universe. The contestants? Elderly men in red robes. The crown? Spiritual authority over nearly 1.4 billion Catholics. On video sharing platform TikTok, American Internet personality and comedian Rob Anderson's clip dubbed the conclave the 'Pope Games', describing it as a 'Sistine Chapel sleepover' where cardinals cast their vote for the next pontiff. He then ranked the papabili, or potential popes – using gay terminology to explain where each cardinal stands on Church doctrine, from fundamentalist to reformist to somewhere in between. Mr Anderson's irreverent take has gone viral, racking up over five million views and pulling centuries-old Catholic discourse straight into Gen Z's feed. Among the breakout stars is Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, often dubbed the 'Asian Francis' for his warmth and progressive views, traits reminiscent of the late pontiff. On TikTok, Cardinal Tagle has become meme gold: One viral edit shows him joking that he only knows three Polish words: kielbasa (sausage), pierniczki (gingerbread), and vodka. There are also several videos joking that karaoke would be a nightly event at the Vatican if a Filipino becomes the next pope. In the past, conclaves were decidedly hush-hush events, as the world's faithful watched and waited for days for the results to be declared: white smoke (a decision has been made) or black smoke (the voting continues). The previous conclave was in 2013, when social media was at a nascent stage. This conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor – which begins on May 7 – is the first to happen in the full glare of social media, with results as entertaining as they are insightful. While blending centuries-old rituals with cheeky or witty online humour is seen by some as creative commentary, others – particularly within Catholic circles – are raising ethical questions about making light of revered traditions. Experts say the phenomenon reflects Gen Z's instinct to remix serious world events into shared online moments, often blurring the lines between respect and satire. To traditionalists, the conclave's memeification – or the process of turning issues into easily shared jokes or visuals online called memes – may seem irreverent and disrespectful. But for many Gen Z Catholics and even curious outsiders, the online buzz has become a gateway into real conversations about the future of the Church. What started as jokes about the cardinals' robes turned into genuine discourse on the theological and political leanings of papal contenders, and what that would mean to Catholics in the modern age. For young people like 22-year-old journalism student Ara Chong from the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, near the capital Manila, the memes have made the Church feel relevant again. 'I became interested after seeing posts describing Pope Francis as the 'diva' of the Church, and that we need another 'diva' like him. That made me curious and got me researching the pope's role in society, and why the conclave matters so much,' Ms Chong said. It is an experience shared by some non-Catholics, like Ms Alex Culla, 23. Watching all the conclave meme videos pushed her to research more about where each papal contender stood on issues she cared about. 'There's like a celebrity culture now surrounding the pope-ables and that made me so invested in the conclave,' said Ms Culla, who is a Christian. Memes as digital evangelisation The memeification of the conclave does not surprise Assistant Professor Fitz Torralba, a sociologist who studies religion and pop culture at the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology in the southern Philippines. Humor helps Gen Z process complex issues, he said: 'Making jokes is a release of tension. It's not an attack on the sacred or the elimination of the sanctity of the church. Rather, it's a way of participating in these conversations'. Filipino Jesuit priest Jboy Gonzales, 57, formation director at the Ateneo de Davao University, said the memes can be considered a form of digital evangelisation. Filipino journalism students Alex Culla and Ara Chong laugh while watching a TikTok video about Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, one of the leading contenders for the papacy. ST PHOTO: MARA CEPEDA 'Sometimes, a meme or even TikTok videos can be great social commentaries about certain aspects of an event. This could lead to further reflection, evaluation and hopefully, action,' Father Gonzales said. Social media can also be used to spotlight the Church's good works in helping migrants, the poor and the marginalised, he said. Memes 'can be opportunities for re-engagement, building bridges... promoting listening and dialogue', he noted. But he warned that memes cross a line when they mock believers or distort facts. Social media also poses risks of disinformation, with some users spreading edited videos to question the papal contenders' qualifications. This aspect worries church leaders like Filipino parish priest Aris Sison, 63, who is also spokesperson for the Diocese of Cubao in Quezon City. He felt sad when told that there were viral videos of Pope Francis' possible successor even during the nine-day mourning period for the late pontiff. That some videos branded the papabili like beauty pageant contestants made it even more difficult for the 63-year-old priest to understand. 'The conclave is a sacred process of choosing the next successor of St Peter . It's not just a president, it's not just a mayor, it's not just a world leader ; the Pope is the vicar of Christ,' Father Sison said. 'I can't help but say to these social media users: Have a little respect'. Even Filipino papal contender Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, 66, warned against turning sacred rituals into public spectacles. In a Facebook post on April 25, he reminded the faithful not to reduce the conclave to entertainment and cautioned against using social media to campaign for their favorites. '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. TikTok clips as the Church's new stained glass art? Religion reporter Paterno Esmaquel II of Manila-based news site Rappler sees the dynamic between faith and the digital medium as a continuation of a long tradition. He said the Church has long used art – from stained glass windows in churches to famous paintings depicting Biblical scenes – to bring its message to believers. 'Now, it's mediated by technology like TikTok, but the same dynamics are at play,' said Mr Esmaquel , who has a master's degree in Asian Studies, focusing on religion in plural societies, from Singapore's Nanyang Technological University . 'Religion has long expressed itself through art and symbols. And that's what we see now in TikTok and all these memes, and people are playing it up through the language of the new generation'. The Church must make space for humor and 'as Pope Francis has always told us, needs to meet people where they are', he added. No doubt the debate over the use of humour with regard to religious matters will continue long after the black smoke turns white at the Vatican. But it is clear that Gen Z has found a way to engage with the Church, in a way they want to be heard. In the words of Pope Francis himself: 'There is faith in humor.' Mara Cepeda is Philippines correspondent at The Straits Times. 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