Just hours after the passing of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, the global response diverged sharply from traditional mourning or solemn reflection. Instead, it unfolded as a distinctly digital spectacle, shaped by the rhythms of online culture. Central to this shift was the unexpected resurgence of Conclave, the Oscar-winning 2024 film honored for Best Adapted Screenplay, which saw an astonishing 283% surge in viewership … Continue reading Digital Chaos: The Online Reaction to Pope Francis’s Death