Between digital noise and the breath of the Spirit
The Church is preparing, once again, to experience one of the most sacred moments in its history: the election of the Successor of Peter. But this time, the Conclave is being held in a new and challenging scenario: the era of artificial intelligence and social networks. It is no longer just the discernment of the cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel. It is an election that seems “theatricalized,” commented on, and manipulated by algorithms, digital trends, and ideological narratives.
The fiction that wants to become reality
The film Conclave, directed by Edward Berger and the highest-grossing film of 2025 to date, has contributed to reinforcing an image of a divided Church, where power, strategies, and palace intrigues seem to have more weight than prayer and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Many influencers – Catholic and non-Catholic – have begun to speculate on names, alliances, and plots, as if it were a parliamentary election rather than an ecclesial event.
But this narrative forgets a fundamental truth: the Pope is not elected by polls or media campaigns. It is the Holy Spirit who guides the cardinals’ decisions. As a catechist in my diocese used to say with wise simplicity, “The Spirit is like half-crazy: many times he does the opposite of what we ask of him.” And it is in this “divine madness,” which surpasses our human logic, that God’s fidelity to His Church is manifested.
Ecclesiastical polarization: a recurring temptation
The public debate has sought to divide the cardinals into two blocks: those who continue the style of Pope Francis, characterized by a pastoral approach of mercy, closeness and openness; and the conservatives, who desire a return to the doctrinal and liturgical approach of Pope Benedict XVI. This false dichotomy, promoted by certain ideologized sectors, has generated disinformation campaigns and direct attacks on several of the so-called papables, forgetting that the only authentic criterion must be fidelity to the Gospel and docility to the Holy Spirit.
Artificial intelligence and opinion manipulation
We live in an age where artificial intelligence can generate false profiles, manipulate images, and fabricate credible narratives in seconds. Some digital actors use these tools to sow confusion, further polarize positions, and exert pressure on the process. All of these risks divert attention from the essential: the spiritual and supernatural character of the Conclave.
A Church guided by the Spirit, not by likes
In the face of this climate of tension, the Church is called to maintain the serenity of faith. Peter’s boat has sailed through more turbulent waters than these. The Lord’s promise has always sustained it: “I will be with you always, till the end of times” (Mt 28:20). Church history reminds us that many of the most transformative Popes were unexpected, even perplexing, choices, but always providential.
May we never forget that the Church is not a company, a party, or a viral platform. It is the Body of Christ, and its Head is the Risen Lord himself. We Catholics are called to pray intensely for the new Pope and not to fall into the game of media speculation.
Conclusion: trust, pray, and wait
The next Pope will not be the one chosen by the networks but the one whom the Holy Spirit will inspire in the hearts of the cardinals. May this time be one of trusting prayer, of silent waiting, and of living faith. It is not the noise of the world that marks the course of the Church, but the whisper of the Spirit that guides those who allow themselves to be led.
“Do not let yourselves be confused by the voices of the world. In the silence of the heart, God speaks” (St. John Paul II).
*Alfredo de la Cruz Baldera, Bishop of San Francisco de Macorís, Dominican Republic, Secular Institute of Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests member.
Source: iaantropo.blog
