Three seagulls, including the chicks, were probably the first on Earth to learn that a new Pope was elected on Thursday.
A few minutes of white smoke yelling from the chimney of Sistine Chapel – signs that Conclave had finished with the winner – was a bird flying and perched on the roof. After grabbing attention for two days of their own, they grabbed the front row seat to a show named Leo XIV, an American, Robert Francis Prevast, who was named Pope.
Conclaves have been rolled out over the past two days, with news channels around the world focusing cameras on chimneys, Roman seagulls coming and going into shots, turning urban pests into Conclave's global star attraction, which became a social media moment.
On CNN on Wednesday, anchor Erin Barnett, who was standing in St. Peter's Square, noted that everyone was “attentive” to those gulls.
“They are part of this story in the Vatican,” she added.
Online, Sea Gulls offered lightness and entertainment on Wednesday. Author Charlotte Climer posted on X: “Havemas Segal” – a twist on the Latin phrase “Havemus Papam”, translated into “We Have a Pope.”
Virginia priest Father Cassidy Stinson posted a video to X, “Screams to one Seagull trapped in that one Seagull,” and to Tiktok, the pet cat posted on X.
Some have contemplated the importance of birds.
“We need a mascot because we don't know anything else about what's inside, and the Seagulls became the Conclave mascot,” said Katy McGrady, host of Sirius' Catholic Channel and Vatican Analyst at CNN, in an interview. However, since “As far as I know, God likes to communicate with the pigeons,” it is unlikely that they are any kind of premonition or indication.
This is not the first time Seamall has inserted itself into an event in St. Peter Square. In 2013, when the previous Pope was elected, their cameos at the chimneys produced their own Twitter accounts, jokes and memes throughout the internet. In 2014, when the late Pope Francis released the Ukrainian peace dove, hungry sea gulls swooped and attacked.
McGrady said, as if Sea Mall knows how to take advantage of good spotlight moments. “I feel like those little guys have some personality.”
