In a unique twist, over 75,000 participants are predicting the selection of the next Catholic leader by picking 11 cardinals they believe to be the most likely to become the pope in a fantasy football-style game.
Picking the Next Pope: A Fun, Digital Spin on an Age-Old Tradition
On the coming Wednesday, the College of Cardinals will be holed up in the Sistine Chapel, making a decision that will shape the future of the Catholic Church - choosing the next pope. This closed-door gathering is known as the Conclave (from the Latin for "with key"), and it takes a multitude of cardinal electors and multiple rounds of voting to select the new pontiff.
In an interesting twist, the web game Fantapapa has attracted 75,000 eager participants who are casting their own votes, in a sense, for who they think makes the best pope candidate. Players strategize by assembling a team of potential popes they think are likely to secure the most votes. According to the co-creator of Fantapapa, Pietro Pace, each player chooses 11 cardinals, the ones they deem as the most likely to become pope.
A captain is chosen from the cardinal deemed most likely to be selected as the next pope, while the one considered least likely is relegated to the goalkeeper position. This digital game represents a return to the early days of papal selection when ordinary citizens of Rome could participate in the election of the pope, considering the significance of the role and the power that comes with it.
The other co-creator of Fantapapa, Mauro Vanetti, explains their motivation behind the game, saying, "We know religious hierarchies hold a significant amount of power, both domestically and internationally, so it was intriguing to us to approach this historic event from a light-hearted perspective, while still being grounded in reality."
Diving Deeper into Papal Elections: A Historical Perspective
Throughout history, the manner of selecting a pope has changed dramatically. Initially, the election was a less formalized affair with various methods such as acclamation being used. Acclamation allowed the pope to be chosen through consensus or public acclaim, involving both clergy and the general populace.
Notable examples of acclamation include the elections of Pope Fabian in 236, Pope Gregory I in 590, Pope Gregory III in 731, and Pope Gregory VII in 1073. In more recent history, acclamation was evident in the elections of Pope Gregory XV in 1621, Pope Clement X in 1670, and Pope Innocent XI in 1676.
The process was formalized by Pope Nicholas II in the 11th century, limiting secular influence and establishing a more structured electoral system in 1059. Since then, the system has been refined, culminating in the modern conclave, which is marked by the College of Cardinals gathering in seclusion and voting until a candidate achieves a two-thirds majority.
The New Age of Guessing the Pope
While there's no concrete information about an actual web game named "Fantapapa," it's possible that such games might simulate the conclave process or involve predicting who will become the next pope. These games generally mirror aspects of the real electoral process, allowing players to engage with the historical and procedural elements of papal elections in a creative and fun setting. With the recent digital version of this game, fans can join in on the excitement and put their predictions to the test.
In conclusion, the evolution of papal elections has seen the transition from informal methods like acclamation to the sophisticated definitive system of the modern conclave. While modern games might simulate the election process virtually, these simulated experiences remain distinct from the historical methods of choosing a pope.
- The upcoming pope selection in the Sistine Chapel is a historic event, reminiscent of the digital game Fantapapa, where over 75,000 participants cast their 'bet' on who they think will become the next pope.
- Fantapapa, a webgame, requires players to strategize by assembling teams of potential popes, choosing the one they deem most likely to 'win'.
- In Fantapapa, the cardinal chosen as the most likely to be elected pope becomes the captain, while the least likely is relegated to the goalkeeper position.
- While not confirmed, there may be games similar to Fantapapa that simulate the conclave process or focus on predicting the next pope, allowing players to engage in a fun and creative setting.
- The concept of Fantapapa brings us back to the early days of papal selection, where ordinary citizens, like today's players, could influence the election, recognizing the significant power that comes with the role.
- The creators of Fantapapa believe this approach to the pope election offers an 'interesting' and light-hearted perspective, balancing power and religion with entertainment.
- Despite digital games like Fantapapa, the formalized election process in modern times has come a long way from the initial methods of acclamation, which allowed the pope to be chosen through consensus or public acclaim, involving both clergy and the general populace.
