Wait for Vatican white smoke fires up social media

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on France24 or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: US President Donald Trump posts AI-generated image of himself as pope
• The image went viral amid speculation over the Vatican conclave after Pope Francis’s death
• Over 1.3 million tweets and 363 million TikTok views on the topic

🔭 The context: Social media amplifies excitement and curiosity about the pope election
• People engage in prediction games and speculate about the next pontiff
• Young people are particularly drawn to the secrecy and drama of the conclave

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The pope's influence on global issues is widely discussed
• The Vatican’s digital presence connects with younger generations, particularly on social media
• Pop culture also fuels interest in the event

⏭️ What's next: Digital strategies and global attention are shaping the conclave narrative
• Cardinals are increasingly visible in pop culture and on social media platforms
• The Vatican’s successful outreach to younger audiences continues to evolve

💬 One quote: “Young people love to speculate about outcomes... it's almost like an ‘escape game’.” — Stephanie Laporte, digital strategist

📈 One stat: Over 1.3 million tweets and 363 million TikTok views about the conclave

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