The election of Pope Leo XIV and its impact on the meaning of life for Roman Catholic Christians: A longitudinal experience sampling method study in the USA before, during, and after the pope’s election

A sense of meaning in life is crucial for well-being and is relevant in both theology and psychology. One real-world event where both areas intersect is the election of a new pope, the conclave. In a study using experience sampling (N = 117), we examined the change in meaning in life during the pre-conclave, conclave, and post-conclave phases (14 days, k = 1,470 questionnaires). The election positively impacted the meaning of life (increased presence of meaning, reduced search for meaning) for Roman Catholic Christians, with effects lasting at least 10 days post-election. This effect remained consistent even when controlling for factors such as age, gender, national identity, and religiousness. This suggests that even less religious Catholics experienced a positive impact. The findings are discussed using theories of emotional contagion, social identity, and meaning-making.