We have a new pope!

Modern Relics is the weekly newsletter that relishes all things religion, the internet and pop culture.

This week the mood is the first two minutes of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City season 4 where the housewives dramatically say Bible verses instead of their usual opening zingers.

Thank you Curtis for alerting me to that 🙏.

Pope Michael has a successor

I was wondering the other week if the late Pope Michael (extremely online, sedevacantist pontiff from the Holy See of Topeka, Kansas) ever got a successor.

It turns out, yes! There was a conclave held in Vienna on the 25 July, and only people who were in communion with Pope Michael were invited to attend. The election happened by drawing lots, and after a candidate was selected but declined, Archbishop Rogelio del Rosario Martinez Jr was finally elected on the 29th.

He has taken the papal name Pope Michael II.

Pope Michael II appears to live in San Jose del Monte, Philippines. Perhaps that is where the new Vatican In Exile will be based?

The first Pope Michael would never have achieved any kind of profile were it not for his active internet ministry that began around the year 2000. In 2007 this ministry was noticed by film maker Adam Fairfield, who made a full-length documentary about him, further raising his profile.

Pope Michael enjoyed considerable goodwill online from Christians of many stripes, even though very few recognised his claim to the papacy. A Pope Michael parody Twitter account continues to post despite the death of its muse.

His successor appears to be causing enough of a stir to get an official response from the Roman Catholic Church though: chair of the Filipino bishops’ conference, Bishop Jose R Rojas, has warned Filipino Catholics not to participate in Pope Michael II’s coronation or any of his services.

If you want to know more about the Vatican in Exile, I highly recommend Magnus Lundberg’s extensive piece on the World Religions and Spirituality Project.

“You can’t do real magic without a real magical spoon”

Alternatively…

“I’m so meek 😭😭😭”

Thanks to Moose for sending me this post.

Here’s another of Moose’s submissions

Sorry for the bad crop. It’s hard to put things from Instagram carosels on here.

I’m sorry but Pikmen are beyond redemption :(

Lanky Kong too… he has no grace :(

Gay Bowser does go to heaven though

Inspired by whomst

Lastly, don’t say you weren’t warned

Next week I may not be able to post as I will be attending the Uniting Church NSW & ACT Synod meeting in the Blue Mountains. I may be able to pull something together (perhaps a list of submissions?) but consider it a bonus! Okay bye!