Not since Fleabag's Hot Priest stirred collective longing has the internet shown such fervor for priestly proceedings. As 133 cardinals entered the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on Wednesday to begin a first round of voting for a new pope, the internet erupted with memes, speculation, and a surprising amount of enthusiasm for Vatican procedure. The mood online is equal parts solemn liturgy and stan culture, as people anoint their preferred successors, share edits of their favorite cardinals, and dissect centuries-old rituals like they’re scenes from Edward Berger's Conclave. And it's not just Catholics watching with fascination. The internet has turned the Church’s succession protocols into a kind of fandom. Think March Madness brackets, but for princes of the Church. So why is the internet, an ecosystem not exactly known for its deep liturgical literacy, so obsessed with the papal conclave? Part of it is the drama. The conclave has all the hallmarks of prestige TV (or an Oscar-nominat...