On “Conclave” and Blurring the Lines Between Religion and Fandom

Given the success of Conclave in 2024, directed by Edward Berger and staring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci, it makes sense that the film would play an important role in the conclave following the death of Pope Francis. However, the film’s popularity has helped blur the lines between religion and fandom. 

The conclave serves as the gathering of Cardinals under the age of 80 to elect the new head of the Catholic Church, an event that has historically been surrounded by political intrigue. The Cardinals are locked inside the Sistine Chapel with no communication with the outside world, using only white smoke to alert the public of the new Pope’s selection. The drama and secrecy shrouding the event would make for good entertainment– as demonstrated by Conclave‘s several awards including four wins at the 78th British Academy Film Awards, the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay, and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 97th Academy Awards. 

Still, the real life conclave has been absorbed by fans of Conclave. According to Politico, Cardinals watched the film for guidance on the actual event. Meanwhile, Catholics and non-Catholics alike took to the internet to make memes and TikToks, referencing both the 2024 film and the absurdity of historical conclaves.

All the hype surrounding the conclave has been evocative of something else: media fandom.

The discussion surrounding the conclave as been evocative of reality TV, such as Rob Anderson’s TikToks about ‘The Pope Games’ and referring to the candidates as “divas” and “queens”. Max Miller of YouTube’s Tasting History also made a video for the event, exploring the food eaten at the conclave in 1549. And of course, the announcement of Pope Leo XIV coming in the form of the ‘Destiel Meme’.

With the new Pope hailing from Chicago, Illinois, the public took to fandom to make comparisons. tef on bluesky posted “you know who else came from chicago and was “on a mission from god”” in reference to The Blues Brothers.  Owen Dennis, creator of the Cartoon Network series Infinity Train, said that “”The Chicago Pope” sounds like a TV show you would AT LEAST watch the first episode of” followed up by a reference to Home Alone. Chicagoans have even photoshopped Pope Leo XIV in Bears attire. 

It’s no secret that fandom and religion have a lot in common. Fandom borrows the term ‘canon’ from the religious canon, and has rituals and moral guidelines just like religions do. Both groups show devotion through symbolism, community, and by locking in on the latest news. However, the 2025 conclave takes it a step further by literally blending a love of fiction with the Catholic faith. While not everyone who’s taken interest in the new Pope identifies as Catholic, their behaviors reveal the overlap between fandom and religion. 

Though this blurring may not be a bad thing. Religion and fandom are two major parts of people’s identities and it’s okay if they sometimes overlap. They both play big roles in how we engage with the world and our sense of morality. The fascination with the event has also spurred opportunity for more people to learn about the history of Catholicism and its ties to world politics. 

So are Catholics simply devoted fans of the Bible? And are fans of Conclave taking a religious stance? Not really.  But this conclave has given us a unique look into how people operate when it comes to the most important aspects of their identities.  

Author: Abby Kirby

Abby Kirby is an English teacher and fan studies scholar. She holds an M.A. in Media and Cinema Communications from DePaul University.

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