The Internet Picked Cardinal Tagle. The Conclave Thought Differently

The Internet was stunned when Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle wasn’t announced as the new pope. After weeks of devotees, wannabe papal analysts, and curious bystanders rallying behind the Filipino cardinal on social media, it seemed like Tagle was a shoe-in to “win” at conclave. But when white smoke rose above St. Peter’s Basilica on May 8, it didn’t herald the world’s first Asian pope. Instead, it marked the ascent of American Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo Benedict XIV — the first American pope. 

When the late Pope Francis passed away on April 21, many immediately began wondering if Tagle could succeed him and carry forward his more open-minded legacy. News outlets revived the nickname “Asian Pope Francis” when speaking about Tagle, a call-back to when the Filipino cardinal was also a papal frontrunner during the 2013 conclave. Publications such as Vogue, Them, and the New York Times wrote detailed examinations on the possibility of a Tagle papacy. Online, many were drawn to Tagle’s sympathetic view towards the LGBTQ+ community, labeling him the “gay internet’s favorite papal content.” Memes praising Tagle poured in, as well as a deluge of TikTok deep dives, Twitter analyses, and Instagram posts touting Tagle as the cardinal who could bring the Catholic Church into a more progressive era. In short, the Internet felt it was Tagle or nothing. 

So when it wasn’t Tagle who stepped out onto St. Peter’s balcony, a giant wave of disappointed supporters began voicing their betrayal online, offended that their top pick hadn’t won. The Internet hadn’t even placed Prevost in its top five, and the thought that the new pope could be anyone but Tagle came as a shock to many.

What the Internet’s disappointment has taught us is that the Vatican cares little about the loud musings of online speculators. While social media crowned Tagle early on, the conclave moved to the rhythm of its own centuries-old traditions. However, this shouldn’t be seen as a loss for Tagle, but rather a reminder that influence in the Church isn’t measured in likes or hashtags — and that real legacy is built far beyond the spotlight of a papal election.