Since Pope Francis passed away, there has been much discussion about who will lead the Catholic Church next. Many global news outlets have mentioned several names as potential frontrunners. Cardinal Robert Sarah from Guinea is among such names, a notable contender, especially among conservative church members.
Several social media posts claim he has already been chosen as the new pope, and these posts include a picture of him dressed in papal clothing. Let’s look at the claim in detail.
Social Media Posts
In recent days, an image resembling Cardinal Robert Sarah wearing papal vestments has gone viral on Facebook, garnering thousands of shares. The image carries the caption “Breaking News: New Pope has just been announced.”
Below is another viral post with the same claim.
Fact Check
Despite the social media momentum, there is no official confirmation that Cardinal Robert Sarah has been announced as the new pope.
According to Reuters, the process of selecting a new pope is expected to begin on May 7. The Vatican has announced that 135 eligible cardinals (those under age 80) will meet in the Sistine Chapel to vote and elect the next leader of the Catholic Church, which has 1.4 billion members worldwide.
The historic chapel has temporarily closed to visitors to prepare for this important event, which combines centuries-old traditions with modern security protocols.
Unlike previous conclaves that lasted only two days, this one might take longer because many of the cardinals appointed by Pope Francis haven’t had the chance to meet each other yet. The May 7 date was chosen to give cardinals enough time to hold preliminary discussions before the actual voting begins.
Additionally, a reverse image search of the viral picture revealed no legitimate instances of Cardinal Sarah wearing papal clothing in reputable sources.
Analysis using a few AI detection tools, such as “Was it AI?” and “AI or NOT,” indicated that the image was likely artificially generated, confirming our initial findings.
While Cardinal Sarah is a notable potential candidate for pope, particularly among conservatives who appreciate his traditional Catholic values, his chances of being elected are not considered strong by many experts. Although social media has been buzzing with support for him, Vatican analysts note that online popularity doesn’t necessarily influence the actual voting process, where cardinals meet privately to make their decision. (Source: BBC, Catholic Herald)
Conclusion
While Cardinal Robert Sarah is a potential candidate for the papacy, claims about his appointment as the new pope are false. The official conclave to elect the next pope hasn’t begun yet, and the viral image purportedly showing him in papal vestments appears to be AI-generated. Following established Vatican protocols, the selection process will start on May 7, 2025.
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Title:Viral Image of Cardinal Robert Sarah in Papal Vestments is AI-generated!
Fact Check By: Cielito WangResult: False
