On the morning of April 21, 2025, the Vatican officially announced that Pope Francis, the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away at 7:35 AM at the age of 88. Cardinal Kevin Farrell painfully stated in a Vatican TV program: "Dear brothers and sisters, I must announce with deep sorrow that our Pope Francis has returned to the Lord's kingdom. He served the Lord and the Church throughout his life." This news shocked the global 1.4 billion Catholics and stirred waves in the crypto market. The meme coin LUCE on the Solana chain was affected, with its market value surging from $9.08 million to $28.19 million within 45 minutes, a staggering increase of 210.46%, becoming the focus of crypto discussion.
However, after the initial excitement, LUCE's market value dropped back to around $17 million. This frenzy reminds people of the scarcity-driven price surge in CS2 game items—the global event of the Pope's death ignited LUCE's emotional speculation. As the Vatican enters the "Conclave" to elect a new Pope, will the crypto world witness the next wave of "Pope coins"? Let's embark on this fantastic journey from the temple to the blockchain.
What Happened? LUCE's Stunning Surge
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was the first South American Pope, known for his humility and reformist spirit. His passing quickly spread globally, with X platform users commenting that LUCE "short-term surged, with a 24-hour increase of over 168%", even breaking through $0.0255. The actual data is even more shocking: according to market records, LUCE's market value skyrocketed from $9.08 million to $28.19 million in 45 minutes, a 210.46% increase, becoming the day's crypto focus. However, due to a lack of sustained buying, its market value fell from its peak and is now stable around $17 million.
Notably, three days ago, LUCE reportedly plummeted 80% due to a market maker's abandonment, catching many investors off guard. Yet, the news of the Pope's death quickly "revived" LUCE, with crypto players lamenting the unpredictability of life. This rise and fall mirrors the logic of rare CS2 items becoming scarce and price-spiking due to official removal. The Pope's death, as a global event, gave LUCE a unique narrative value, with investors seeing it as a "representative of Catholic hot topics", despite CoinGecko's clear warning that LUCE has no connection to the Vatican or its official mascot Luce.
LUCE's Origin: From Anime Mascot to Crypto Symbol
LUCE's popularity is inseparable from its cultural roots. On October 28, 2024, the Vatican launched an anime mascot Luce (meaning "light") for the 2025 "Holy Year", designed by Tokidoki founder Simone Legno. Archbishop Rino Fisichella stated that Luce aims to bridge the gap between the Church and young people through pop culture. Her image is full of details: a yellow raincoat symbolizing the Vatican flag, muddy rain boots representing the hardships of pilgrimage, a shell staff symbolizing "enlightenment and hope", and pet dog Santino representing loyalty. Luce also appeared at the Lucca Anime Convention and plans to attend the 2025 Osaka Expo, sparking fan creation.
The next day, the namesake meme coin LUCE was launched on the Solana chain via the Pump.fun platform, quickly gaining popularity by leveraging the massive base of 1.4 billion Catholic followers. LUCE's market value once soared to $362 million, becoming the first meme coin deeply tied to a religious theme. However, its high volatility made its price like a roller coaster, with significant drops after listing. This 210.46% surge triggered by the Pope's death again proves meme coins' sensitivity to hot topics.
Speculation Logic: Analogous to CS2 Item Scarcity
LUCE's surge is remarkably similar to the price increase logic in the CS2 item market. In CS2, an item becomes scarce due to official removal, creating a supply-demand imbalance that drives up prices as players compete. LUCE's rise stems from the emotional resonance of the Pope's death as a "limited-time event". X platform users commented that LUCE is the "best medium to commemorate the Pope, neither offensive nor unable to carry global emotions". Despite lacking fundamental support, its association with Catholic culture led investors to bet on its short-term scarcity. However, the quick drop after the surge also exposes the speculative nature of meme coins, similar to the price correction after a CS2 item craze subsides.
Conclave: How a New Pope is Born
Pope Francis's passing marks the Vatican's "sede vacante" period. In the next 15 to 20 days, about 120 cardinals under 80 will gather in the Sistine Chapel for the "Conclave" to elect a new Pope. This 800-year-old process is known for its mystique and ritualistic nature.
Election Process
- Mourning and Preparation: After the Pope's death, the College of Cardinals enters a nine-day mourning period, holding a funeral and destroying the Pope's Fisherman's Ring. Cardinal Camerlengo (usually Kevin Farrell) manages transitional affairs.
- Conference Initiation: Cardinals reside in the Casa Santa Marta, with voting in the Sistine Chapel. Before the conference, "extra omnes" (everyone leave) is called, the chapel is sealed, and outside contact is forbidden.
- Voting Mechanism: Up to four votes daily, requiring a two-thirds majority (about 80 votes) to elect a Pope. Ballots are burned, with black smoke indicating no decision, white smoke announcing a new Pope. If no result after 33 rounds, the top two enter a final vote.
- Result Announcement: The new Pope accepts the election, chooses a papal name, and is announced by the senior cardinal at St. Peter's Basilica's balcony with "Habemus Papam" (We have a Pope).
2025 Election Highlights
Currently, about 138 cardinals are eligible to vote, with 110 appointed by Francis, leaning towards Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Potential candidates include:
- Peter Turkson (Ghana): Conservative, focuses on peace and social justice.
- Luis Tagle (Philippines): Progressive, inheriting Francis's humble style.
- Péter Erdő (Hungary): Traditionalist, well-versed in church law.
- Pietro Parolin (Italy): Pragmatist, Vatican Secretary of State, who facilitated multiple diplomatic agreements.
The choice of the new Pope will determine the future direction of the Catholic Church—whether to continue Francis's progressive reforms or return to conservative traditions—and is highly anticipated.
Next Wave? The Possibility of a New Pope Coin
LUCE's surge sparks imagination: Will a "Pope Coin" trend emerge in the crypto world after the new Pope is elected? Tokens like FRANCIS (named after Pope Francis, with a peak market cap of $500,000, currently around $60,000) or POPE (peak market cap over $1 million, later dropping to zero) were briefly active on April 21st. Tokens of candidates like Parolin and Tagle also had a fleeting moment. The result of the secret conclave might give birth to a new meme coin, speculating around the new Pope's name or symbol. However, the high risks of meme coins are evident, and LUCE's price trajectory reminds investors that emotion-driven trends are often short-lived.
Pope Francis's passing is not only a turning point for the Catholic Church but also unexpectedly ignited the LUCE meme coin's legend. From a Vatican anime mascot to a speculative symbol on the Solana chain, LUCE staged a remarkable collision of faith and finance with an astonishing 210.46% surge. As the bells of the secret conclave ring, 120 cardinals will choose a new leader for 1.4 billion Catholics in the Sistine Chapel. Crypto players may already be poised, anticipating the next "Pope Coin" frenzy. In this digital age, even the oldest religious ceremonies can create waves on the blockchain. May Pope Francis rest in peace, and may Luce's light continue to illuminate the intersection of faith and trend.
