The Catholic world is in mourning. On April 21, 2025, Pope Francis, the beloved ‘People’s Pope,’ passed away at 88, leaving a legacy of compassion and courage.

Struck by a cerebral stroke in his Vatican residence, the first Latin American pontiff bid farewell after a frail but inspiring Easter Sunday.

His final hours were marked by a poignant moment: a meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, one of the last people he saw, exchanging Easter greetings in a bittersweet farewell. The Vatican now enters a sacred transition.

By May 11, 136 cardinals will gather in the Sistine Chapel for a conclave, voting in secret until white smoke signals a new pope.

It’s a moment of mystery, tradition, and maybe… history in the making. So, we asked Grok, the AI from xAI with a 100% accurate track record predicting last year’s Oscar winners, to forecast the next pope.

And Grok’s answer? It’s a game-changer!

Grok predicts the next pope will be… Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines!

Yes, a Filipino could become the first Asian pope, taking the name Pope John XXIV!

At 67, Tagle’s a rockstar cardinal—charismatic, media-savvy, and nicknamed the ‘Asian Francis.’ But why him? Let’s break it down!

First, Tagle’s a perfect match for Francis’ vision. Like the late pope, he’s all about pastoral care, social justice, and welcoming everyone—LGBTQ+ Catholics, divorced couples, you name it!

Francis appointed 108 of the 136 voting cardinals, stacking the deck for a progressive like Tagle to carry his torch. Plus, as Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Tagle’s already a Vatican heavy-hitter, spreading the faith worldwide.

Second, Tagle represents the future. Catholicism’s booming in the Global South—Asia, Africa, Latin America—and Tagle’s Filipino roots make him a symbol of this shift.

With 140 cardinals from outside Europe thanks to Francis, the Church is ditching its Eurocentric past. Imagine a pope from the Philippines, where 80 million Catholics pray! Tagle’s fluency in English and joyful vibe could unite a Church battling secularism and scandals.

But hold up—there’s drama! Some cardinals might push for a conservative like Hungary’s Péter Erdő or a safe European pick like Pietro Parolin.

The conclave’s unpredictable—‘he who enters a pope, leaves a cardinal,’ as they say. Yet, Grok’s betting on Tagle’s youth, charm, and progressive edge to win over the electors.

If he pulls it off, it’s a seismic shift—a Filipino pope leading 1.4 billion Catholics into a bold new era!