From reverence to reels: How the faithful show admiration through memes, humor 

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As the conclave, starting on Wednesday, May 7, draws closer, the world turns its gaze to the College of Cardinals — one of whom will answer God’s call to serve as the 266th leader of the Catholic Church. With the seat of Saint Peter vacant (sede vacante in Latin), the church now finds itself without a leader, father, and shepherd to guide the 1.4 billion Catholics across the globe.  

With prayers, speculation, and anticipation mounting, the faithful closely follow not just the solemnity of the sacred traditions of the papal election but also the cardinals themselves, who, in an unexpected turn, become subjects of viral memes, heartfelt tributes, and online devotion. 

@thestujoph Philippine Cardinals enter Vatican gates for Pope Francis’ Requiem Mass. 📸: Fr. Kasmir Nema,SVD #popefrancis #funeralmass #vatican #rome #italy ♬ original sound – 🎧Špøtįfŷ…

This viral video features four Filipino cardinals arriving at Pope Francis’ requiem mass last April 26. Among them are former Manila archbishop and current pro-prefect of the Dicastery of Evangelization Luis Antonio Tagle, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David, Manila Metropolitan Archbishop Jose Advincula, and Archbishop Emeritus of Cotabato Orlando Quevedo.

Cardinals Tagle, David, and Advincula are the three Filipino cardinals eligible to vote in the upcoming conclave. Cardinal Quevedo, having surpassed 80, is no longer eligible to vote. 

Filipinos have been closely following the presence of their cardinals in Rome, holding onto the hope that one of them might be chosen as Pope Francis’ successor.

Electing a Filipino pope would mark the first ever Asian and Filipino pontiff. Such a possibility has stirred deep national pride across the country.

A TikTok netizen shared that they’re related to Cardinal Quevedo through their grandmother, calling him “tiny but mighty.”

Cardinal David’s charming and warm demeanor seen in the video has resonated with netizens. One user noted that Cardinal David is always smiling, while another, despite not being Catholic, shared that he seems “utterly wonderful.” 

@nickybinthehouse I’ll bring the Pancit 🍜✝️ #phillipines #filipino #filipinoamerican #karaoke #pope #tagle #catholic #CapCut ♬ original sound – Nick B

A viral video featuring a woman singing in a karaoke bar is captioned, “The Vatican every weekend once we elect the first Filipino Pope.” This reflects how Filipinos express national pride in humorous and celebratory ways.

The comments on the viral TikTok post show widespread support for the idea of a Filipino pope. Some users joke that a “Filipope” would bring a wave of Filipino influence to the Vatican, envisioning a “300%” increase in Filipino tourism, communion wafers being replaced by lumpia shanghai, and the Vatican choir going up to a higher level thanks to the strong vocal talent of Filipinos. Some outside the Filipino community have voiced their support for a Filipino pope. 

Filipinos believe that having Cardinal Tagle as a pope would boost the presence of Catholics in Asia, and restore the Church’s relevance in today’s society.  

Another trending TikTok video shows Cardinal Tagle with his so-called “glam team,” humorously comparing him to a Miss Universe contestant. The clip uses “The Colors of Siam (Party Version),” the background music from the Miss Universe 2018 preliminary swimsuit competition.

One comment humorously suggested that hopefully, the Filipino cardinals are not “El Tocuyo” victims and one will rise to be the next pope.

“El Tocuyo” refers to the term for beauty pageant contestants who are heavily favored by fans and analysts to make a placement in the finals — similar to the conclave’s “papabile.”

Cardinal Tagle, also dubbed the “Asian Francis” with his similarities in progressive stances with the late Pope Francis, is considered to be one of the leading contenders to be the next pope. [READ: [Pope Watch] Cardinal Tagle and the ‘papabile’ label]

Another comment jokingly refers to Tagle’s “holy walk,” referencing Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s iconic “lava walk.”

Other comments draw playful comparisons to Gray’s journey to the Miss Universe crown. One fan suggested that Cardinal Tagle should echo Catriona’s famous line, “I stand here not as one, but for the 104 million Filipinos,” and have his papal gown designed by Mak Tumang, the same designer behind Gray’s iconic winning gown. 

Another comment joked about whether there might be a dark horse that would unexpectedly become pope. This was evident in the 2013 conclave, where Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, later Pope Francis, was not regarded by the media as a contender. Still, he had been considered as a possible candidate, having been runner-up to Pope Benedict XVI in the 2005 conclave. 

@don.actuario Tagle Core. Luis Antonio Tagle, cardenal de Filipinas. 🇵🇭 #vaticano #tagle #fypシ゚ #filipinas ♬ QKThr – Aphex Twin

Another video featuring Tagle is titled “Cardinal Tagle core,” which shows a compilation of lighthearted and charming moments that netizens find deeply endearing. 

One video clip features his soft giggle during Pope Francis’ 2015 papal visit, before giving a speech to the pontiff. Other moments show him singing, dancing, and interacting with the audience during his speeches and reflections, further revealing a remarkable ability to bring light even on the most solemn occasions. 

Here are original Rappler footage of some of the clips: 

Cardinal Tagle is admired for his simplicity, kindness, and humility, which are qualities that people think he also shared with Pope Francis. People also believe that if he were to become pope, he would draw more young people closer to the church.

Netizens appreciate Cardinal Tagle’s down-to-earth personality, highlighting how he remains to be joyful and approachable. A comment noted that he is a true Filipino because he has a talent for singing. 

With the upcoming election of the next pontiff, the CBCP called on the public to refrain from endorsing or campaigning for specific cardinals, reminding Filipinos that the conclave is a sacred and prayerful process, free from external influence or undue pressure. – Alfon Cabanilla, Andrea Martija, and Christine Asas/Rappler.com

Alfon Cabanilla is a third year communication student at Ateneo de Manila University. He is currently an exchange student at the Université Catholique de Lille in Lille, France. He volunteers for Rappler’s digital communications team.

Andrea Martija is currently a third year communication student at Ateneo de Manila University, specializing in journalism, advertising, and public relations. She is a volunteer for Rappler’s digital communications team.

Christine Asas is a communication student specializing in marketing communications and press relations. She is a volunteer for Rappler’s digital communications team.