Digital Voices in the Conclave: An Analysis of YouTube Comments on the Cardinals in the Run-Up to the Election of the New Pope

This scoping study examines the transformation of religious participation in a postmodern context, focusing on the role of digital platforms, particularly YouTube, in the discussion of the election of the new pope following the death of Pope Francis. The analysis focuses on Italian users’ interactions in the comments of the videos dedicated to the papal cardinals, highlighting how these online spaces reflect and reinforce the dynamics of doctrinal polarization, identity discussion and religious participation. The collected comments highlight the dichotomy between conservative and progressive visions of faith, and reflect a growing religious individualism that challenges traditional ecclesiastical authority. The paper also discusses the implications of a digital papacy, where the faithful actively influence the image and direction of the Church through online participation, fostering an increasingly global and immediate dialogue.