# The 2025 Papal Conclave **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 5, 2025, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913 "2025-05-05T17:40:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2025, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/301 "2025-05-10T22:39:56Z")
I don’t know any popes personally, but ordinary priests usually wear the same things as anyone else underneath their robes. There’s a little dressing-room area called the sacristy behind the altar area in most churches, where they put on the robe right before a service, and then generally take it back off again right away afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/302 "2025-05-11T00:20:39Z")
If I’m Pope, I’m going commando under my robe…I’d mumble something about how Jesus used to do it. And I’d commission some custom Nikes. Then I’d get hooked up with a custom Lamborghini like Francis was gifted (only I wouldn’t auction mine for charity) [![](https://i.ibb.co/1tq6Z869/IMG-2003.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/1tq6Z869/IMG-2003.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/303 "2025-05-11T04:38:28Z")
Now there’s a pretty cool Papal Bull. [![](https://i.imgur.com/xcI4w7s.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/xcI4w7s.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/304 "2025-05-11T13:20:11Z")
Guardian article with info about Leo’s family heritage: > **[This American pope: Leo XIV’s bloodline reflects the US melting pot](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/11/pope-leo-xiv-family-history)** > > A fraught history of race and immigration connect the new pope with his homeland ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/305 "2025-05-11T14:01:53Z")
Bulls and popes have a bad history, since the Borgias used a red bull as a crest. > [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > Wait until he starts issuing proclamations, which they will call DA BULLS. And at every Mass he will offer DA PRAYERS. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/306 "2025-05-11T17:00:23Z")
If he doesn’t start at least of his first speeches with [“We’re on a mission from God,”](https://youtu.be/MKZSqd5Y8nA?si=9ouryo0N4167RL7k) his papacy should be immediately revoked. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/307 "2025-05-11T17:24:29Z")
Will he refer to nuns as “penguins”? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/308 "2025-05-11T22:41:38Z")
Once. Maybe. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/309 "2025-05-11T22:57:55Z")
Even the Pope fears the nuns. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/310 "2025-05-11T23:15:28Z")
Oh yeah, nuns are folks not to mess around with. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/311 "2025-05-12T05:32:38Z")
Especially in the era he grew up in. I caught the tail end of that era, a mix of younger “new-age” nuns and the old battle axes. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/312 "2025-05-12T06:21:18Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > …and the old battle axes My youth was influenced by catholic nuns. We lived opposite the catholic church, just up the street from a catholic school, my dad was catholic, and we went to mass every Sunday. Then my dad died. The fucking nuns tried to take control of our household - I know they were trying to help, but my mother, a not very religious Anglican, just needed to be left in peace to grieve. They were always in the way. That was the start of my glide into atheism. I do have an uncle who is quite high up in the catholic church, and he is a nice guy. But not because of his religion. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/313 "2025-05-12T07:17:21Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/kD-fPb87mVA/hqdefault.jpg "Father Ted: NUNS! REVERSE!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kD-fPb87mVA) ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/314 "2025-05-12T07:39:36Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > I caught the tail end of that era, a mix of younger “new-age” nuns and the old battle axes. Back in the late-eighties one of my co-workers was a Catholic Vietnamese immigrant. One lunchtime conversation nuns were mentioned and he immediately said, “Ooh!” and rubbed the back if his wrist. I asked, “Are nuns like that in Viernam, too?” “Nuns like that everywhere, I think.” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/315 "2025-05-12T12:00:56Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I don’t know any popes personally, but That was a great and evocative turn of phrase. Well done! Somehow it instantly brought to mind that old joke where the punchline is the traffic cop on the phone/radio with HQ: > I don’t know, but he’s got da Pope drivin’ for him." ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/316 "2025-05-12T12:27:24Z")
Interesting article about supposed conclave machinations > **[Secret Conclave Exposé Reveals Who Almost Beat Leo](https://www.yahoo.com/news/secret-conclave-expos-reveals-almost-200621247.html)** > > Cardinals threw their weight behind another candidate early on before momentum shifted toward America’s first Pope. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/317 "2025-05-12T13:20:34Z")
What would the anti-pope wear? All black? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/318 "2025-05-12T13:25:33Z")
And what will happen if the pope and the anti-pope meet? Will they vanish in a big burst of energy? ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/319 "2025-05-12T13:48:04Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > Will they vanish in a big burst of energy? And would it be white smoke or black smoke? ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/320 "2025-05-12T14:00:57Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > And would it be white smoke or black smoke? Depends on who has more mass. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913.md?page=17)