Latest news with #PopeCrave
The Guardian
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The new pope is the internet's biggest meme. What does that say about us?
While most good Catholics spent the early days of this week in solemn contemplation, praying that the church's new leader would be a person of character and someone who could unite us in these tense, ungodly times, the rest of us were on X cackling at our screens and reposting chimney memes. Social media has been having a field day since Pope Francis passed and the race was on for a new pope. And now that Pope Leo XIV from Chicago has been selected, the jokes have been top-tier – references to the TV show The Bear, videos of the new pope walking out to music by the Chicago legend Chief Keef, Spike Lee somehow making this a win for the New York Knicks – I don't remember the last time I had this much fun in the hellish digital town square formerly known as Twitter. Pope Crave, a parody Vatican stan account that started as a fan page for the 2024 film Conclave, has led the charge in keeping everyone updated with a mix of actual reporting and pitch-perfect humor. Now, at almost 100,000 followers, it has become a de facto source for all Vatican news. Pope Crave was the first to report that a new pope had been chosen (sharing the news before the actual Vatican), and even had a reporter on the ground in Rome to cover the whole thing. The meme-ification of the new pope is enjoyable on multiple levels, not least of which is the fact that it's revived one of the last remaining good parts of internet culture: laughing together. Much of my time online these days is spent avoiding trolls, blocking bad-faith actors and trying to reset my algorithm so my feed isn't just full of rightwing ads (or in Canada's very specific case, weird fake hit pieces about Howie Mandel?). But this. This is what social media was made for. The pope memes have picked up on all the best (and most ridiculous) things about this moment: the ritualistic selection process, Leo being the first American to hold the title, the fact that we literally saw this movie last year and the new pontiff's Chicago roots. There's also just the ridiculousness of having a pope to begin with, and continuing to engage with this kind of decadent ritual while the world burns down around us. This week felt like the kind of nonsectarian, cross-cultural punching up that offers mild respite from our collective and constant disgust at the state of the world. At the same time, it's an opportunity for real action – Pope Crave's Conclave Charity Zine, for instance, has raised more than $15,000 for charities such as the Intersex Human Rights Fund. The other great thing about this moment is the ways in which it signals our irreverence and disdain toward institutions like the church. The Catholic church remains one of the most powerful institutions in the world and papal supremacy is an ideal that almost transcends denominations at this point. But it's also the same institution that has covered up systemic abuse within its ranks for decades, and still holds deeply problematic views on women and queer people. The arrival of a new pope has come at a time when people are interrogating the distribution of power in the world, when the formerly devout are questioning their faith (no matter what the American religious right would have you believe), and when there's an urgent sentiment that the global establishment and its supporters (like the church) need to be transformed. Pope Leo XIV's ascent is taking place at the cultural intersection of social media obsession, power and religion. But the way we've responded to it – the return to our collective ideals that moments like this inspire – gives some meaning to all the pomp and circumstance. Tayo Bero is a Guardian US columnist
Express Tribune
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Pope Crave: Meme account inspired by ‘Conclave' goes viral during real papal election
As the world awaited the announcement of the new pope, one unlikely source delivered the news ahead of the Vatican's official channels—a meme account dedicated to the 2024 film Conclave. Created by Dallas-based artist Susan Bin, the account @ClubConcrave has become a viral hub for memes and live updates from Vatican City. Launched in 2024 following Bin's fascination with the film adaptation of Robert Harris's novel, the account built a niche community through humorous content and fan art. The platform, also known as Pope Crave, parodied pop culture news pages while focusing on all things papal. During the real 2025 conclave, it surged in popularity after sharing a meme-filled post about the white smoke moments before the Vatican made its official announcement. Speaking to New York Times Bin said, 'I am currently physically not in the Vatican, but metaphysically I am always in the Vatican and in their walls.' The account's popularity grew organically from fan interest, particularly after the film gained traction in Asian markets post-Oscars. A Discord server and a charity zine followed, establishing a global network of contributors, some of whom Bin claims are stationed within Vatican City. The account, which blends sincere curiosity with satire, has received little negative feedback. Bin added, 'It comes from a place of sincerity and humor… I think Pope Francis would enjoy these memes.'
Fast Company
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
‘His views better have changed since 2012': How a viral meme account beat the Vatican to the Pope Leo XIV news
White smoke poured from the Sistine Chapel chimney Thursday at 6:07 p.m. local time, signaling the end of the conclave and the election of a new pope to lead the Catholic Church. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of the United States is now the 267th pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. Just a minute later, Pope Crave broke their silence: 'We don't claim him,' they posted to their 93,000 followers, beating even the Vatican News portal to the update. 'His views better have changed since 2012 to be more in line with Papa Francis or else . . . apostasy!' they added. If you're late to the party, Pope Crave is a parody account modeled after celebrity news sources like Pop Crave and Pop Base. They've been posting updates on the papal vacancy with a mix of on-the-ground reporting and ' diva sightings.' 'We don't have official press credentials, but we are very determined people,' they told Time in a recent interview. The account began as an X fan page devoted to Conclave, the 2024 film starring Ralph Fiennes and its heavily memed awards season run. Pope Crave is run by Susan Bin, an artist from Dallas, and Noelia Caballero, a lawyer based in Ontario, Canada. Since launching, the account has grown into a broader community, spawning a dedicated Discord server and a charity zine that has raised over $50,000 for the Intersex Human Rights Fund, the Freedom Fund, and Librarians and Archivists with Palestine—charities Bin and Caballero say reflect 'the views of the film.' When news of Pope Francis's death broke in late April, Pope Crave quickly shifted focus, offering real-time updates and explaining the conclave process through memes. (They even managed to fact-check Politico.) The last conclave happened in 2013—before TikTok existed. This time, with social media fully embedded in everyday life, the papal succession became a fandom event and a platform to support the most progressive candidates.
Business Insider
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
I saw 'Conclave' in theaters 5 times. Here's why Gen Z was so obsessed with it — and the real thing.
I have a confession. I saw " Conclave," the movie, five times in the theater. It's shocking, I know, in an era when movie theater attendance has been tanking, but it meant I was well-prepared for this week's real-life event and the inner machinations of the cardinals who ultimately selected Robert Francis Prevost to be the next pope. It also meant I understood all the Gen Z hype around it. First, there's " Pope Crave," a play on the popular "Pop Crave" X account, which has transitioned from sharing "Conclave" film memes to reporting live from the event itself. Then there were TikTok edits and betting pools. Even NBC's Steve Kornack, another unlikely Gen Z icon, jumped in, breaking down the conclave à la his popular election coverage — signature khakis and all. So why the huge surge in interest in the real conclave — and the film? Gen Z loves access, exclusivity, and drama In an age when social media and direct virtual access have come to dominate politics, the movie gave Gen Zers a fictional glimpse at what might happen behind closed doors — an inroad into a ritual that, by design, is shrouded in secrecy and pomp. When the real event rolled around, anyone who had seen the film could feel like they were already in on the secrets. Some of the most affecting parts of the film are grounded in the humanity of its holy men: The throughline of Ralph Fiennes' Cardinal Lawrence, the dean of the "Conclave," is his growing detachment from his own faith. Factions snipe at each other, the purest of men are petty and short, and the desire for power and institutional stability is a blinding force for some. Those are certainly themes that are resonant for younger viewers who have often joked about constantly living in unprecedented times. And those themes resonated with audiences: Conclave also emerged as a surprise box-office hit, a standout in a time when big superhero franchises and reboots are floundering. And, yes, it amassed its own barrage of TikTok edits — another Gen Z hallmark. The film primed Gen Z for the actual event It's like knowing Taylor Swift's catalog so well that you can spot the Easter Eggs in her newest music — you're naturally going to be a bigger fan, notice the inside details, and debate what it all means in the group chat. The actual conclave meant that, unlike dramas such as "Succession" or "Game of Thrones," the movie crossed a little bit into reality; Gen Z came in with an acute, gossipy understanding of what might be happening behind closed doors and was ready to speculate. That offered the opportunity to edit, post, and bet away. The film, and the actual event, also came at important times for Gen Zers. "Conclave" gained box office steam right around the 2024 election, suggesting an appetite for a contained story about a high-stakes and tumultuous election; the film's box office yields for the Friday and Saturday following the election both came in over $1 million. (I did not pay for five individual viewings. As a sober-curious, subscription-maximizing young person, I'm a member of AMC A-List, which allows me to see four movies a month for just under $30.) The appointment of a new pope comes at a consequential life stage for many Gen Zers, even as the share of young Catholics in the US shrinks: Many in my age cohort are considering marriage or having their first children. A new pope might dictate how much, if at all, they choose to be involved in their religion or raise a child within it. Now, ironically, we're in a world with a new pope tailored to the Gen Z age: Folks are already combing through his X account and finding his political takes. Welcome to the official Pope Crave era. Do you have a story to share about the conclave (real) or "Conclave" the film? Contact this reporter at jkaplan@
New York Times
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Meet the Meme Maker Behind the Conclave's Most Viral Moments
How did you learn a new pope had been elected? Were you glued to a livestream? Maybe you got a push alert. Or, if you are a particularly online type of person, you might have learned from the X account @ClubConcrave, a fan account for the 2024 film about a dramatized papal election process. In recent days, the account has become a source not just for memes but also for regular updates from Vatican City. Susan Bin, a 30-year-old artist in Dallas, started @ClubConcrave last year after becoming obsessed with the film, growing a small community of similarly devoted fans and creating a 'Conclave'-inspired zine to raise money for charity. When the white smoke started billowing from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, Mx. Bin, who runs the account with another administrator, was ready to post the news within seconds, sharing a litany of memes including a cat stylized as a cardinal vaping. (@ClubConcrave, which also goes by Pope Crave, a riff on the popular culture account Pop Crave, beat the official Vatican account to the news by four minutes.) In an interview that has been has been edited and condensed, Mx. Bin discussed the account's unlikely path from the fringes of fandom to the mainstream. Let's get one thing out of the way. Are you Catholic? I am not Catholic! I am so not Catholic. I have been to mass once in my life. You seem to have a bit of a fascination with the pope. When did this begin? I'm just a little bit normal about the pope. I'm an artist and I studied fine art — most artists who go through a studio system have some familiarity with the Renaissance and a lot of that's deeply embedded in the Catholic Church. What drew you to 'Conclave?' I don't typically watch these types of dramatic films. I watch a lot of horror and nonfiction. 'Conclave' is not normally a film I would watch, but I saw the trailer was well cut. I then read the novel because I couldn't find the script. So I knew exactly what I was getting into when I watched 'Conclave,' but the way in which the film transformed the text really caught me off guard. In a good way! How many times do you think you've seen it at this point? Oh, probably in the 40s. I know. Please don't laugh. What is its most meme-able moment? I'm going to go for my favorite and just say the loud Lavazza coffee machine. That's my personal favorite. I know it's not like the definitive one, but it makes me giggle. You turned that obsession into an online community. Tell me how that happened? I'm not obviously the only person that thought 'Conclave' was so prime and ripe for memeing. As soon as I watched, I opened Letterboxd and someone had already written like 'the most diabolical vape hit of all time.' I was like I need to talk to people about 'Conclave,' period. I just kept drawing fan art and making memes. Around November we had a small fandom and I started a 'Conclave' charity zine. The community grew a lot after the Oscars when the movie was released in Japan and Korea. And then, you know, the real conclave happened. In addition to posting memes, you've also been using your account @ClubConcrave to give people news updates. Are you actually in Vatican City? I am currently physically not in the Vatican, but metaphysically I am always in the Vatican and in their walls. We do have Pope Cravers on the ground, though. We have a Discord group that grew out of the zine and the zine contributors, and so that's truly global. There's even some people inside the Vatican. Inside? Do you mean they work for the … I cannot say. Why do you think popular culture, whether that is memes or film and television, is so obsessed with the pope? I would say that the aesthetics and patriarchy of the Catholic Church and its institution is like next to none. It's pretty crazy. I think also the lore … not me referring to a religious institution as lore, but like it has a deep lore. It's an institution that is a bunch of contradictions, it's supposed to be sacred and yet in its history it has been super political. It exists as a state and yet, it isn't. It's like a video game entity. Has anyone online gotten mad about your content? Honestly, no. Everyone's been in pretty good spirits. I think this account finds the people it needs to. It comes from a place of sincerity and humor. Pope Francis spoke in Italian about how it's important to have humor and light in life and that lot of people see Catholic dogma — the institution — as heavy and labor-intensive and, essentially, not fun. I am going on the record and saying I think Pope Francis would enjoy these memes.
