Habemus Morbus

Habemus Morbus is the name of this concept video game, relating the two main concepts in the plot of the game. It comes from the infamous sentence “ Habemus Papam ” said every time a pope is elected in the Papal Conclave also indicated by the ‘Fumata Bianca’. 

The word ‘Morbus’ means disease or illness. The use of this concept as part of the argument has been inspired by the recent (2020) Covid-19 Pandemia all over the world.

Joining those two cocepts made sense as in “We have a disease” and also looked cool, the stated words rhymed and sounded interesting. Also there is nothing ever named after this title.

The game is set in the modern world, in actuality. The beginning of year 2020 has been everything but quiet and ordinary. A major event has occurred never been seen before, only imagined by science-fiction creators. The new Virus Covid-19 has spread all over the globe killing thousands of people and forced millions of people to stay confined in their homes.

One of the first countries in Europe to suffer from this dramatic change in day to day lifestyle, has been Italy and within it, the Vatican City . This is where our story is set.

The virus has reached and killed the pope days before the major confinement. A new one must be elected. The College of Cardinals has gathered together in order to elect the new representative of God on earth as soon as possible.
Hours after the cardinals have locked up themselves in the Sistine Chapel, the government has stated that everyone should stay at home within a period of a month and avoid social contacts for protection and medical safety.

Unaware of this, the cardinals remain isolated focused on their one and only goal: electing the new pope. Suddenly a major concern appears: Once the pope is elected, millions of faithful will lead unmistakably to the Vatican in order to greet and welcome the elected pope.

This, is for them, above of the government safety concerns. The Conclave must be stopped in order to avoid such a gathering of people as well as saving the enrisked lives of the Cardinals who at their age are vulnerable people to the virus.

The first minister of the Vatican City refuses the proposal of the Italian Government . ‘God is above all human life, and the pope must be elected. This is a matter than can’t wait for the confinement to end.’