Movies

How Pope Crave Went From Conclave to the Conclave

BBG News

What started as a bit has turned into something altogether holy.

In December 2024, artist Susan Bin established Pope Crave, a fan account centered around the movie “Conclave” featuring Ralph Fiennes, along with its popular awards-season journey. Mimicking celebrity news platforms like Pop Crave or Pop Base, Pope Crave originally concentrated solely on “Conclave” developments, featuring must-see memes. However, as of now, the account – boasting over 60,000 followers – has shifted its focus to providing real updates about the papal vacancy and collaborates with on-site correspondents in Rome.

Adrianna McCain found herself in Rome with her family on May 6, and seized the moment to assist one of her preferred accounts. She reached out to the account, proposing her abilities to conduct an on-site mood assessment, or “vibe check”. Although McCain was raised Catholic but no longer practices, she snapped pictures outside Saint Peter’s Basilica and spoke with a few locals about the city’s expected crowd size. It is essential to note that Adrianna McCain is not a professional journalist but rather an avid stand-up comedian who frequently engages online, and a devotee of Pope Crave. Nonetheless, she provided some light reporting from Vatican City. “There were numerous ‘real’ journalists present,” she informed TIME via X direct message.

McCain ranks “Conclave” among her top three favorite movies from the previous year and terms it as “optimistic.” She shares that she debated with friends about whether the ending was too unrealistic, questioning: “Can’t there be an institution that embodies its teachings and guides with love and acceptance?” This very idea initially inspired Bin to start the account and also create a “Conclave” zine, which Bin describes as a “portrait of the fandom” from November. The account has experienced a significant increase in followers numbering in the tens of thousands since then. “We are a powerful force, a unified force,” claims Bin.

It’s clear that there’s a significant number of individuals who appreciate the series ‘Conclave’ and its related memes, and they come from a wide range of religious backgrounds. This group includes devoted Catholics, individuals who may have strayed from their faith but are re-engaging due to the show, and even non-Catholics like myself who practice Buddhism. Bin shared this observation in a recent Zoom interview with TIME. The account and its following, which includes a Discord server, reflect this diverse, global audience. McCain finds the account compelling and enjoyable, noting that the memes resonate well. Given the dramatic nature of a conclave, from the elaborate attire to the mystery and seclusion, Pope Crave’s content aligns perfectly with it.

TIME: Who is behind the Pope Crave account? How many admins? How many correspondents?

Susan Bin serves as the primary administrator for Pope Crave. I’m the one with the password access. Alongside me, there’s another admin who collaborated on our zine project. She focuses on queer ministry and is also an internationally recognized human rights lawyer. Due to her professional commitments, she prefers not to be linked publicly with cardinal memes. However, it’s her who has intimate knowledge of the cardinals participating in the conclave. I, myself, am an artist, mainly working within film and television industries. Although I have a history steeped in Catholicism, I do not practice Catholicism. My academic background lies in art history and archaeology, with my college studies focusing on Greek myths depicted on Roman sarcophagi (specifically guided by Professor Ruth Bielfeldt). This led me to explore the visual iconography of these narratives on Early Christian sarcophagi, concentrating on Papal Sarcophagi – where I delved into repurposing Greek myths as Christian myths. Under the tutelage of Professor Christine Smith, my research also encompassed examining the original placements of the Papal tombs, tracing them from Old St. Peters to New St. Peters.

So who is in Rome? How quickly did all of this come together?

This account was established prior to the Oscars, around December I believe. During the For Your Consideration campaign for our film, we’ve been having fun with memes. However, there was a serious discussion between me and my co-admin about Pope Francis’ health and the potential of an actual conclave taking place. We wondered if we would travel to Rome for it, but the event occurred on Easter Monday, at a time when both of us were busy with work commitments, making it impossible for us to attend in person.

However, we have two particularly eager members of our Pope Crave Discord group who happened to be in Italy, albeit not residing in Rome. When other members of Conclave Hive learned they’d be near the Vatican, they offered, “Hey, I’ll serve as the local correspondent if you need!” To which we responded warmly, “Absolutely, come join us!” While we don’t possess official press credentials, our determination is unwavering.

That’s incredible. So who’s in this Discord? Tell me about the Discord.

The disagreement appears to involve approximately 200 individuals. We initiated it shortly after Thanksgiving, coinciding with the broader global release of Conclave. Initially, our Twitter account, known for sharing posts and memes related to Conclave, began advertising a charity zine project we undertook. This project, organized by fans, features essays, writings, artwork, and fan art from over 50 contributors.

Spread across the globe, we find members from Indonesia, the Philippines, and of course, America. However, what sets us apart is the inclusion of Italians within our group. This diverse mix, each with their unique quirks, forms the core of our conflict, often referred to as Discord. It serves as a platform for sharing humorous content, insider information, and even acts as a breeding ground for memes, hence my nickname for it – a meme incubator. We host watch parties together, and when Pope Francis passed away, the activity on the Discord saw a significant surge. It was the first thing many checked, creating a sense of unity and shared experience within our little online community.

You recently fact-checked a story in Politico and they issued a correction. How does it feel to affect mainstream media?

At my upcoming 10th college reunion next year, I’m planning to casually drop this conversation starter: I verified the political news about conclaves through PolitiFact, so now they call me “Professor Conclave.

Can we talk about the shift from Oscar-season stan account to a legitimate papal news source?

It seems you’re captivated by the intrigue of the conclave process, particularly in the context of the Catholic Church – an influential and weighty institution. Given our contemporary climate of worrying fascism, I can understand why this subject matter resonates with you. The election of a new pope doesn’t just affect the 1.5 billion practicing Catholics; it also has the potential to shape global events significantly. Despite its gravity, we approach the film with humor and memes as a means of dealing with serious topics. Memes, I believe, are an exceptional tool for bringing people together.

The transition felt organic for me. When we embarked on the Oscar project and the series ‘Conclave’, there remained an interest among people to understand the true nature of conclaves. Given my academic background in this topic, it was a seamless fit. Moreover, since our Discord publication has members who are practicing Catholics, everyone became part of this ongoing conversation. From the very beginning, we’ve been committed, perhaps for the long haul.

Has Focus Features, which distributed the film, been in touch with you?

I see Focus as more like our pals, and while I’m unsure if they appreciate us or find us bothersome, we shared some lively DMs during the Oscar season. I ended up on a waitlist for an Conclave event, but surprisingly, they managed to get me in, which was quite thoughtful of them. I don’t wish to be a nuisance. Since the actual conclave, there’s been no contact from them. To be included in a Focus group chat during the ongoing conclave… Focus, if you’re listening, could you reach out? Send some conclave wine my way.

How do you feel about Pop Base or Pop Crave providing papal updates?

Just so you know, that area is off-limits to you. That’s my space, and I prefer to keep it that way.

What distinguishes you from stan accounts like a Club Chalamet or Diana Agron updates?

I want to clarify that I’m not suggesting these accounts lack sincerity, but rather they were created for a specific purpose – to fundraise for charities related to the film’s theme, such as the Human Rights Intersex Fund, the Freedom Fund, and Scholars and Archivists for Palestine. The account is known for creating memes and maintaining a fun atmosphere, but there’s a deeper level of sincerity behind it. The message in the film resonates with people, making invisible populations feel seen, which is why people find so much enjoyment from this rich text. We may appreciate the film, but we are not blind supporters (stans) of the Catholic Church. In fact, we’ve been quite critical of the Catholic Church during Discord watch parties where we’ve watched several critical documentaries about it.

Could you tell me a little bit more about the zine?

I’m extremely proud of this project, as it represents my blood, sweat, and tears – a testament to the effort I’ve put into it. I even blistered my skin from applying wax to the packaging. It spans over 100 pages and showcases a diverse range of creators. Every individual involved, with one exception, identifies as queer. Additionally, I made a conscious effort to include intersex creators in our work, as it was important to me to represent this community.

We initiated it back in November, right after the movie’s release. It was essentially a reflection of the fanbase at that moment, which was quite modest, with roughly 30 of us in our Discord community. Now, our numbers have grown significantly to over 200, leading me to limit new members. During Oscar season, we had a pre-order phase. The film-related Twitter community really supported us. Even those at Focus Features were aware of it, and they expressed their appreciation for the project.

Initially, our sales exceeded $50,000, with all earnings being donated to charities during the Oscar season. Last week, my friends and I gathered, played multiple language versions of Conclave, enjoyed Italian wine, and worked tirelessly packaging items. A second wave of enthusiasm emerged, prompting us to plan a second print run, which has garnered an astounding response. This exceeds our initial pre-orders, suggesting we could make a total of $75,000 in sales, all profits of which will be donated. By the time a new Pope is elected, we aim to raise $100,000 for charity. One of my aspirations is to present a zine to the new Pope.

What’s your long-term plan with the Pope Crave account?

I want the Holy See to hire us so we can make official Vatican memes.

Politico reported that cardinals were watching Conclave to get guidance on the process. What are your thoughts on that?

I believe it would be a good idea for them to reserve the zine in advance. Moreover, I’d love to hear their recommendations for their preferred fan fictions on Archive of Our Own (AO3).

Who do you hope carries on Pope Francis’ legacy?

In a playful manner, I tweeted my endorsement for Pope Tagle. If given a choice, I’d prefer Zuppi, but he seems unlikely to win. In good humor and without any fear of excommunication, I’m placing all my bets on Parolin. This, in essence, is my prediction for the papal selection.

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2025-05-08 18:06

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