# 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:** 17
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/321 "2025-05-12T14:05:26Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Somehow it instantly brought to mind that old joke where the punchline is the traffic cop on the phone/radio with HQ: There’s that other joke where the Pope’s personal assistant comes in and says, “Holy Father, you have a phone call. But there’s good news and bad news.” The Pope says, “What’s the good news?” The guy says, “Well, it’s Jesus Christ and he wants to talk to you.” Pope: “Okay, what’s the bad news?” “He’s calling from Salt Lake City.” * * * 🥁 Ba-da-_bing_! ---
**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, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/322 "2025-05-12T16:00:01Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > > > Will they vanish in a big burst of energy? > > And would it be white smoke or black smoke? Grey. A big cloud of incense. ---
**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 12, 2025, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/323 "2025-05-12T22:19:35Z")
Has Trump tried to take credit yet? I can see him saying that he’s the reason they elected a Pope from the USA, and that it never would have happened for any other president. ---
**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 13, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/324 "2025-05-13T01:32:41Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@LSLGuy](#): > > > > Somehow it instantly brought to mind that old joke where the punchline is the traffic cop on the phone/radio with HQ: > > There’s that other joke where the Pope’s personal assistant comes in and says, “Holy Father, you have a phone call. But there’s good news and bad news.” > > The Pope says, “What’s the good news?” > > The guy says, “Well, it’s Jesus Christ and he wants to talk to you.” > > Pope: “Okay, what’s the bad news?” > > “He’s calling from Salt Lake City.” > > * * * > > 🥁 Ba-da-_bing_! _Ba-da- **BANG!!!** _ Good one! ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/325 "2025-05-13T15:02:22Z")
I haven’t seen him taking credit for this selection but I imagine it is only a matter of time before he lashes out at Peru since they are calling Leo the “Peruvian Pope”. ---
**Author:** ![ricksummon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ricksummon/32/3333_2.png) [@ricksummon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricksummon)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/326 "2025-05-13T20:43:45Z")
> I wonder if there’ll be a time when Pope Bob does something, and we’ll lovingly react with, “That’s _ **the Chicago Way** _ !” “They excommunicate one of ours, we burn one of theirs at the stake!” ---
**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 13, 2025, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/327 "2025-05-13T21:39:29Z")
I’m wondering if SNL can resurrect that old skit with Da BEARS!! fans sitting in a bar surrounded by food & beer. But now yakking about Da POPE! [It was hard to resist substituting “pontificating” for “yakking” in the previous paragraph. ;)] ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/328 "2025-05-13T21:49:24Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I’m wondering if SNL can resurrect that old skit with Da BEARS!! fans sitting in a bar surrounded by food & beer. But now yakking about Da POPE! Except now they’re priests. ---
**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 13, 2025, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/329 "2025-05-13T21:56:07Z")
Even better!! ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/330 "2025-05-13T22:01:12Z")
Now the question is why hasn’t anyone done this on Youtube. You could even have “Pope Leo” come in at the end and bless the Malört to make it holy water. ---
**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 14, 2025, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/331 "2025-05-14T01:09:27Z")
It might be nice to let the poor guy get installed and do his Popely thing for a couple of weeks to set his tone before he gets mocked mercilously. He might be the sort to take to the Chicago jokes happily in stride and he might not. Both he the person, and he the person living in the new role of the Pope. Some folks can wear a really big mantle lightly, and for others it’s quite a burden. I’m a devout heathen, but I still think the office deserves respect even if what they stand for doesn’t. ---
**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 14, 2025, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/332 "2025-05-14T12:18:31Z")
As long as he does not issue a papal bull mandating Chicago style deep dish pizza, he’ll be good with me. And the entirety of Italy. And the few pizza shops just around Vatican City. It seems there are none at all in the city! Mamma mia! ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/333 "2025-05-14T12:18:35Z")
Leo seems like a fine fellow and I wish him well. His brother, on the other hand, is a MAGA troll who [says he’ll tone it down.](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/us/louis-prevost-pope-leo-xiv-brother.html) Looks like a modern Billy Carter. Fortunately, a lot of his more trolly posts have been taken down. ---
**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 15, 2025, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/334 "2025-05-15T03:49:37Z")
Which is ironic because Bannon is claiming that the conclave electing his brother was more rigged than the 2020 election. Why? He’s said mean things about Trump. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/xlzjgzkxKjc/maxresdefault.jpg "Bannon says Pope Leo XIV election was rigged") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlzjgzkxKjc) ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/335 "2025-05-15T04:10:24Z")
Oh, die mad about it. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/336 "2025-05-15T13:36:10Z")
Well, Joe Biden _is_ a Catholic. 🤷‍♀️ Q.E.D. /s ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/337 "2025-05-18T21:04:52Z")
I noticed this photo of Pope Leo in his Popemobile: [![](https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/cb8771a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5275x3516+0+0/resize/1440x960!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fd1%2F26%2F4fc8f185ccf0f8591f7721e5effd%2Fb6346b896986454c8f9fb9c5219f3c3f) ](https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/cb8771a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5275x3516+0+0/resize/1440x960!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2Fd1%2F26%2F4fc8f185ccf0f8591f7721e5effd%2Fb6346b896986454c8f9fb9c5219f3c3f) and it reminded me of JFK in Dallas: [![](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/b294a7ab-dcb4-4e1a-b1d1-f0475620920f/kennedy-1-gty-er-250123_1737669978252_hpMain_4x3.jpg) ](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/b294a7ab-dcb4-4e1a-b1d1-f0475620920f/kennedy-1-gty-er-250123_1737669978252_hpMain_4x3.jpg) Isn’t it too dangerous for the Pope to be riding around like this? ---
**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 18, 2025, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/338 "2025-05-18T21:15:25Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > I noticed this photo of Pope Leo in his Popemobile: I wasn’t as much surprised by the open popemobile, that has been standard for decades, as by the white dove flying by in the foreground. ETA: or is it a seagull? I really can’t tell, but the bird makes for a great picture. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2025, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/339 "2025-05-18T21:22:32Z")
Yeah, that’s what caught my eye, too. The white bird in the foreground. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2025, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913/340 "2025-05-18T21:23:01Z")
Both indeed: it is a seagull; it makes for a great picture. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-2025-papal-conclave/1017913.md?page=18)