Buzz Builds Online as World Awaits New Pope
Ahead of Wednesday’s papal conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis, social media has erupted with over 1.3 million posts under the hashtag #WhiteSmoke and hundreds of millions of views across platforms.
From AI-generated memes to fantasy pope prediction games, the centuries-old ritual has become a viral sensation. Experts say the blend of secrecy, tradition, and global stakes has made this the most digitally engaging conclave in history.
