In brief
During the moments leading to the historic announcement of the new pope, the sea gulls perched atop the Sistine Chapel just before the iconic white smoke emerged from the chimney. The spectacle marked the end of the conclave which resulted in the election of Robert Francis Prevost, who assumed the papacy as Leo XIV. Over the preceding two days, the roving sea gulls captured public attention, transforming the usual narrative surrounding papal elections into a social media phenomenon.
As cameras zoomed in on the chimney, anchors such as CNN's Erin Burnett highlighted the birds, stating that they had become part of the story. "Everyone is paying attention to those sea gulls," she remarked, noting the crowd's reactions every time they took flight. The birds not only brought humor to the serious proceedings but also became symbols of the conclave itself. Online users joined the fun, coining puns like “Habemus Seagull,” while others shared videos of their pets watching the historic moment unfold. Some commentators suggested that the sea gulls have taken on the role of unofficial mascots for the conclave, though they humorously acknowledged that traditional interpretations of omens likely align with pigeons. This isn't the first appearance of the sea gulls in papal history; their antics have gone viral in past elections and even disrupted ceremonial moments. As analysts pointed out, the sea gulls seem well aware of how to capture the spotlight, turning them into beloved incidental characters in Vatican lore.Alisha Haridasani Gupta is a Times reporter covering women’s health and health inequities. See more on: Roman Catholic Church
