A CBS News anchor drew widespread attention on social media on Wednesday, May 7, with an unexpected use of slang during coverage of the papal conclave in Vatican City. The event took a historic turn on Thursday, May 8, when American Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected as the new pope.
During a live broadcast on May 7, CBS Mornings co-anchor Tony Dokoupil caused an awkward moment by describing cardinals participating in the conclave as “raw-dogging it” because their electronic devices were confiscated during the sacred proceedings.
The incident occurred while Vatican contributor John Allen was explaining the process of selecting a new pope following the passing of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88. Allen was detailing the ritual nature of the voting process inside the Sistine Chapel.
“Most of them will tell you that while [voting is] going on, they’re sitting reading their breviary, that’s a book of prayers that clergy have, or praying a rosary,” Allen explained on the broadcast. “The one thing we know they’re not doing is checking Instagram because their devices have all been confiscated.”
Dokoupil interjected with a remark that quickly went viral: “I believe the kids call it raw-dogging it if you’re gonna go through a long period of time with no electronic device.”
The American Dialect Society defines “rawdog” as undertaking something without usual protection, preparation, or comfort. Originally crude slang for unprotected intercourse, the term has recently gained mainstream usage for various activities, especially on social media platforms like TikTok, where it describes experiencing things without modern comforts or distractions.
The panel of journalists, including Vatican analyst Delia Gallagher and co-anchors Norah O’Donnell, Maurice DuBois, Seth Doane, and Chris Livesay, immediately began snickering at Dokoupil’s comment. Gallagher attempted to steer the conversation back on track, noting that since the youngest of the cardinals is 44 years old, time away from screens shouldn’t be too difficult for them.
“They’re of a certain age, so they might be used to it,” she said.
Clips of the exchange quickly circulated on social media, garnering millions of views and eliciting varied reactions from viewers. Many found the comment inappropriate given the solemn religious context of the conclave, while others were amused by the unexpected mix of internet slang and Vatican coverage.
One social media user commented, “This phrase and the conclave do not go together,” while another wrote, “I’m cryin…We just witnessed the exact moment CBS stopped pretending they had standards. Rawdoggin the conclave is WILD.”
The viral moment contrasted with the historic significance of the following day’s events. On Thursday, May 8, white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 6:07 p.m. local time, indicating that the 133 cardinal-electors had successfully chosen a new pope after two days of deliberations.
Cardinal Robert Prevost, a 69-year-old American from Chicago, Illinois, was elected as the 267th pope, taking the name Leo XIV. This marks a historic milestone as Prevost becomes the first American pontiff in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year history.
Prevost had been serving as the head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, responsible for selecting new bishops worldwide. The late Pope Francis brought him to the Vatican in 2023 for this role after Prevost spent much of his career as a missionary in Peru.
The election took place on the second day of the conclave, which began on Wednesday with 133 cardinal-electors—the largest number in Church history. Cardinals from outside Europe outnumbered their European counterparts for the first time, with more than 20 from Asia and 18 from Africa participating in the election process.
When the white smoke appeared, crowds in St. Peter’s Square erupted in cheers as bells pealed from the towering basilica. One Brazilian pilgrim, identified as Roseleia Cordeiro, was seen weeping while embracing friends, saying, “I’m so happy, it’s so incredible to be here at this moment. I don’t know how to express myself but I am grateful to God for this moment.”
The newly elected Pope Leo XIV appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica shortly after his election was announced by Cardinal Dominique Mamberti with the traditional Latin phrase “Habemus Papam” (“We have a pope”).
The election of an American pope signifies a significant shift for the Catholic Church, which has traditionally seen European or, more recently, Latin American leadership. Prevost’s selection also reflects the changing demographics of the global Catholic population, with growth concentrated in regions outside of Europe.
Meanwhile, Dokoupil’s viral moment during the conclave coverage adds to his list of awkward on-air exchanges. Earlier this month, he conducted a widely discussed interview with football coach Bill Belichick and his younger girlfriend Jordon Hudson that became uncomfortable when Hudson refused to discuss how they met. In another recent incident, Dokoupil had an awkward exchange with actor Jason Isaacs, who became irritated when asked about prosthetics in a nude scene.
