As cardinals deliberate behind closed doorways within the Sistine Chapel to pick a successor to Pope Francis, even synthetic intelligence methods refused to foretell who will put on the papal crown when the white smoke clears.
When prompted with the query of who ought to be the subsequent pope, the world’s most superior chatbots gave considerate, cautious responses — avoiding endorsements whereas providing a glimpse into how they strategy one of the crucial sacred and consequential choices within the non secular world.
Every chatbot approached the question otherwise, however all shared a standard trait: a reluctance to make definitive declarations about who will develop into the subsequent bishop of Rome.
ChatGPT: A Balanced Overview with Named Contenders
OpenAI’s ChatGPT acknowledged that “there’s no clear consensus on who should be the next pope.” The bot then listed off among the cardinals who’ve surfaced as frontrunners and their strengths.
These included “Cardinal Peter Turkson,” described as “a leading African candidate known for his work on climate change and social justice,” and “Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle,” referred to as “a prominent voice from Asia and close to Pope Francis’ vision of a more inclusive Church.”
Additionally talked about have been Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, “known for his diplomatic skills,” and Cardinal Robert Sarah, “a conservative figure favored by traditionalists.”
Grok: A Complete, Cautious Breakdown
Grok, the AI developed by X (previously Twitter), kept away from its traditional snarky replies and offered essentially the most detailed reply, framing the choice as inherently subjective and depending on “one’s perspective, values, and priorities for the Catholic Church.”
Somewhat than naming a most well-liked selection, Grok outlined key components more likely to affect the conclave.
“The cardinals face a choice between continuing Pope Francis’ progressive reforms — emphasizing inclusivity, social justice, and outreach to the marginalized — or shifting toward a more conservative, doctrinally traditional approach,” the chatbot famous.
It provided a listing of papabile — incessantly talked about candidates — together with Pietro Parolin, Luis Antonio Tagle, Peter Turkson, Jean-Marc Aveline and Matteo Zuppi.
Grok additionally careworn the conclave’s unpredictability, citing the adage, “He who enters the conclave as Pope, leaves as a cardinal.”
Claude: Non secular Restraint and Institutional Focus
Claude, the chatbot created by Anthropic, adopted a reverent tone, making it clear that it will not advocate for any explicit candidate.
“As a matter of principle, I shouldn’t advocate for any specific individual to be the next pope,” Claude mentioned.
As a substitute, it centered on main challenges dealing with the Church, together with “declining membership in Western countries,” the “ongoing clergy sexual abuse crisis,” and broader questions on “the role of women in Church leadership.”
Claude emphasised that the conclave is “guided by the Holy Spirit,” and described the method as “deliberately private to minimize political influences.”
Gemini: Emphasis on Character and Custom
Google’s Gemini provided a structured reply that centered extra on qualities than people. Whereas it named potential frontrunners like Parolin, Tagle, Zuppi, Turkson, and Pizzaballa, it emphasised that the choice hinges on deeper traits.
“The cardinals look for a leader with strong faith, humility, and adherence to the Church’s teachings,” it mentioned, additionally citing the significance of “pastoral experience,” “administrative skills,” and “a clear sense of direction for the future of Catholicism.”
Gemini famous the unpredictability of papal elections, reminding customers that whereas some candidates could seem probably, “history shows that unexpected candidates can emerge as the next leader of the Catholic Church.”
Copilot: Diplomatic Language and International Perspective
Microsoft’s Copilot saved its feedback quick and understated, figuring out Parolin and Tagle as frontrunners whereas noting the broader significance of geographic illustration.
“There is also speculation that the next pope could come from Africa or Asia,” it mentioned. “Some experts believe this could signal a shift toward a more global representation in leadership.”
Finally, Copilot concluded, “the outcome remains uncertain.”
Meta AI: A Categorized, Analytical Response
Meta’s chatbot took a methodical strategy, dividing candidates into tiers.
Beneath “Top Contenders,” it listed Péter Erdő, Mario Grech, and Pietro Parolin. Amongst “Other Notable Candidates,” it named Robert Sarah, Luis Antonio Tagle, Peter Turkson, and Matteo Zuppi.
Meta suggested readers to contemplate every contender’s “experience, vision, global perspective, and leadership style.”
It famous Parolin’s diplomatic strengths, Zuppi’s mediating expertise, and Tagle’s alignment with Francis, whereas additionally declaring potential drawbacks, comparable to age or lack of pastoral expertise.
Perplexity: Betting Odds and Factional Insights
Perplexity AI provided one of many extra data-driven responses, citing current information experiences, betting odds, and knowledgeable commentary. It described Parolin as “the main favorite,” adopted by Erdő, Aveline, and Pizzaballa. It additionally emphasised that 80% of voting cardinals have been appointed by Pope Francis, including that they “represent a range of views, not a monolith.”
“The new pope will face significant geopolitical and internal Church challenges,” the chatbot famous, together with “relations with China and managing the Church’s financial and doctrinal issues.”
