Obviously, today is a big one for the Roman Catholic Church as a new Pope has been chosen.
He's Pope Francis I - aka Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, 76 years old and the first Pope from the Americas.
But before the white smoke came out of the chimney above the Sistine Chapel, a seagull stole the show in St. Peter's square in Rome.
The bird hung out atop the chimney for several minutes, and almost as soon as it was spotted someone was tweeting about it.
Before long, the seagull became something of a Twitter sensation as the hashtag #PapalSeagull trended, with @ConclaveSeagull, @PopeSeagull springing up.
And of course, there were parody accounts @PapalSeagull and @SistineSeagull, which offered "live commentary" on the papal conclave.
Even the chimney itself had a parody account @ConclaveChimney.
Here's a roundup of some of the tweets that one solitary seagull inspired.
If the seagull on the papal chimney sees its shadow, that's 6 more days of conclave.
— Greg Pollowitz (@GPollowitz) March 13, 2013
I swear to God it sounds like they're playing Ke$ha down there. Does anybody else hear Ke$ha? #conclave cc @keshasuxx
— SistineSeagull (@SistineSeagull) March 13, 2013
Everybody talks about the Cardinals, but its really the 'gulls that make it happen. #conclave #gullpower
— SistineSeagull (@SistineSeagull) March 13, 2013
Wondering how I'm tweeting without a phone? I assure you its not magic, I'm using Carrier Pigeons. Over IP. #mysterysolved #conclave
— SistineSeagull (@SistineSeagull) March 13, 2013
AMEN. #SEAGULLPOPE #PAPALGULL twitter.com/sarahhiraki/st...
— Sarah Hiraki (@sarahhiraki) March 13, 2013
Exclusive info: White smoke is coming. Trust me.
— Papal Seagull (@PapalSeagull) March 13, 2013
What people think being in the #media is: Glitz, glamor, fame. What being in the media actually is: Watching a #seagull on a chimney.
— Dan O'Donnell (@DanODradio) March 13, 2013
that's it. I'm lighting up the stove.
— Conclave Chimney (@ConclaveChimney) March 13, 2013
I'm the MOUNT ETNA of random explosions, Mr. Gull. This is your final warning. Don't make me do something we're both going to regret.
— Conclave Chimney (@ConclaveChimney) March 13, 2013
BACK!!! BACK YOU SEAGULL FIEND!! twitter.com/ConclaveChimne...
— Conclave Chimney (@ConclaveChimney) March 13, 2013
That bird sitting on the chimney could end up becoming a blackbird if he stays there. Or not. #papalseagull
— Courtney Haynes (@courtney1946) March 13, 2013
It's your time to shine @papalwindow , but I may visit.
— Papal Seagull (@PapalSeagull) March 13, 2013
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