Since livestream cameras went up early Wednesday morning, a handful of seagulls have hopped around the Sistine Chapel chimney, delighting onlookers.

The cardinals voting inside the chapel are presumably unaware of the meme-worthy performance above their heads. View on euronews

A seagull perched for a long time on the roof of the Sistine Chapel near the chimney became the "queen" of social media on Wednesday. On Wednesday afternoon, in the Apostolic Palace, a solemn procession of 133 cardinal electors began as they made their way to the Sistine Chapel,

This selection comes after two days of conclave in the Sistine Chapel, tying the modern record for the fastest selection of a pope.

This was among the shortest conclaves in recent decades. Here's a look at the long history of choosing a pope.

White smoke flows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel during the conclave to elect a new pope, at the Vatican, Thursday, May 8, 2025.(Credit: Reuters)