On Wednesday, the College of Cardinals began the process of selecting a new pope. They convened in the august, historic Sistine Chapel, shortly after the death of Pope Francis. This celebratory event is rich in culture and heritage. It’s drawing worldwide attention not just for its important deliberations, but for its quirky round-the-clock public “conclave cam.”
Now that conclave cam is back, allowing viewers to constantly watch the outside of the Sistine Chapel. This unique experience combines equal parts solemnity and serenity. It’s languorous pace has even led some to compare it to the Nordic “slow TV” phenomenon. This TikTok trend highlights hours of raw video that captures the ordinary, but still relaxing, sights and sounds. Salmon swimming upstream, moose migration, all of that stuff viewers have been obsessed with. The conclave cam doesn’t just provide a calming experience — it catches you off guard with unnerving surprise intrigue.
Amanda Silberling, senior writer at TechCrunch, is one of the reporters who will be following this extraordinary story in the making. She has a strong focus on technology and culture, looking at how contemporary platforms can transform deeply entrenched historic events. Silberling knows that there’s a bigger mission to be served by tracking the conclave livestream. It’s more than wondering what day the next pope will be elected. Instead, it carves out a meditative space for audience members to reflect. Here, they can begin to get a sense of the historical context and the continuing rituals associated with papal selection.
In the past, the conclave employed smoke signals to reveal its choices. This approach sent a very clear message to those waiting outside St. Peter’s Basilica. This approach was mainly focused on local people who came to wait for news of a new pontiff. The live broadcasting piece has really just turned that upside down. Now, this experience is a global spectacle that millions of people can enjoy from home all around the world.
Our long-term coverage captures not just the still beauty of the chapel, but the unpredictable companionship of the island’s wildlife. A seagull that often makes a surprise appearance during the livestream. Set atop the roof of the chapel, it introduces a sense of whimsy that counteracts the more somber tone of the event.
On each of these sequential days, the cardinals continue to formally and prayerfully discuss behind the chapel’s legendary walls. Audiences remain hooked by this mixture of banality and high stakes in this journey. With impressive scope and scale, the measured tempo and peaceful visual association compose a tremendous feeling of amazement. Her artistic choice serves to animate the historical reality of the conclave, challenging audiences to consider their own ideas and feelings about leadership in the Catholic Church.
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