How the Space Pope conquers virtual space in EVE Online

When Charles White, aka Max Singularity, his character name in the MMORPG “EVE Online”, enters the room, it is always an experience. Because Charles is not wearing a shirt and pants, but appears in full Space Pope gear. Miter and dress included. As a rule, the Space Pope never comes alone. He will usually be accompanied by his followers, who will also appear in costume, attending this year’s EVE Fanfest in Reykjavik, Iceland. 2023 is a very special year for the Icelandic development studio CCP: “EVE Online” turns 20 and celebrated this in September with 1,200 players offline and significantly more online as part of the EVE Fanfest. Of course, Space Pope should not be missed and in our audience we talked about the anniversary, how he ended up at “EVE Online” and why the community is so important to him.

Get on board early

Charles, who works for NASA in real life, has been playing “EVE Online” since 2008 and looks back on his beginnings in the game with a wink. The game only really appealed to him after he saw a commercial for it on American television. Fascinated by the possibilities of flying a ship through space, removing material from asteroids and attacking enemy ships, the Space Pope spends countless hours in “EVE Online”. The fascination with him has mainly remained thanks to the community. Because although the game is mainly about destroying other ships and their pilots, so-called Capsuleers, the community is surprisingly peaceful.

From combat admiral to space chaplain

We also noticed this in our conversation with Space Pope. He has made it his mission to help players who are not doing well in real life. He listens, talks to them about their fears and concerns and gradually develops into a space pastor. He was first called Space Pope in 2014 and the name has not only stuck to this day, but has also given Charles a certain fame. Not least because he had his tailor make him a suitable robe for his first fan festival in Reykjavik in 2015. When he showed up at Fanfest, fans went crazy saying he was actually Space Pope. What started as fun quickly turned serious.

Save lives as Space Pope

During our conversation it quickly becomes clear how important the community is for “EVE Online” and also for Charles. His concern goes beyond recruiting players for his alliance called the 6th Empire. With his open nature, the Space Pope manages to get players to trust him and tell him about their fears. For some of them, the Space Pope also became a lifesaver. Through his perseverance and empathy he has already saved several people from suicide and it is important to him that we highlight the positive aspects of a functioning community. Because “it’s a common misconception that someone who is a murderer in the game is also a murderer in real life. That is of course not true. Generosity is very important,” says Charles.

Let go of your own ego

Of course there are black sheep everywhere, but in the 15 years that Space Pope has been playing “EVE Online”, the community has developed positively and always keeps a door open, even for players who are just starting out and would like to give it a try. Charles then just smiles at them, destroys their ship without much effort and then explains to them afterwards what they can do better next time. He always gives new players an important tip: they must learn to die with dignity in the game. The Space Pope explains to us that in “EVE Online” it is important to put your own ego aside. Because this is the only way you can develop your own skills.

EV forever?

That’s what the Space Pope ultimately hopes for himself and his future in ‘EVE Online’. He is looking positive on this year’s anniversary and is already looking forward to the coming years with the game. “I would even like to be able to play in a nursing home, as long as my hands and eyes allow it. Then I tell the nurse to wait a minute because I’m in the middle of a fight,” says Charles, smiling. He is sure that the motto ‘EVE Forever’, announced this year for the future of the MMORPG, will also will hold true for decades to come and is already looking forward to the future of the game. We are already looking forward to our next audience at Space Pope.