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Cardinals Who Could Succeed Pope Francis

by News Editor

April 22, 2025

Shortly, the Roman Catholic Church cardinals will convene in the Sistine Chapel for a conclave, a secret ballot election, to choose a successor to Pope Francis. Among the top contenders for this sacred position are:

Leading Candidates to Succeed Pope Francis

Jean-Marc Aveline (France): The Archbishop of Marseille, elevated to cardinal in 2022, shares many of Pope Francis’s perspectives but has been cautious regarding the blessing of same-sex unions. Known for resemblance to Pope John XXIII, Aveline, at 66, might echo the past prediction of the next pope being John XXIV.

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Péter Erdő (Hungary): At 71, the Archbishop of Budapest and Primate of Hungary has long been a favorite. Having chaired the European Episcopal Conferences in 2005 and 2011, Erdő’s stance against same-sex marriage and his skepticism toward welcoming migrants suggest conservative support.

Pietro Parolin (Italy): As the Vatican’s Secretary of State since 2014, 70-year-old Parolin is celebrated for his diplomacy, notably engaging in Middle East and China negotiations. However, the Vatican-China agreement of 2018 drew criticism over perceived concessions.

Marc Ouellet (Canada): The 80-year-old has repeatedly been considered for the papacy, even as recently as 2013. As a staunch conservative, Ouellet opposes same-sex marriage and female ordination even as deacon.

Luis Tagle (Philippines): Once deemed a rising star by Francis, Tagle, 67, has criticized harsh church language towards marginalized groups while promoting more inclusive church policies.

Matteo Zuppi (Italy): Known for his advocacy for the poor and migrants, Archbishop Zuppi, 69, also supports LGBTQ+ blessings, mirroring Pope Francis’s more progressive policies, yet he is against the ordination of women.

Fridolin Ambongo (Congo): At 65, the Archbishop of Kinshasa and a recent cardinal, Ambongo took a firm stand against same-sex blessings, labeling them inherently evil.

Robert Sarah (Guinea): Sarah, 79, is recognized for his devoutly conservative positions. Strongly opposing abortion and same-sex marriage, he often warns against the rise of Islam.

Mario Grech (Malta): As the Secretary-General of the Synod of Bishops, Grech, 68, has shown a shift toward inclusivity, suggesting potential openness to female deacons.

Who Else Might Succeed Pope Francis?

Speculations are rife with nearly twenty cardinals under consideration. Names like Anders Arborelius, Charles Maung Bo, François-Xavier Bustillo, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Juan José Omella are often mentioned among possible papabili.

How is a New Pope Elected?

In the event of the pope’s passing, cardinals younger than 80 years will gather in the Sistine Chapel to undertake the conclave process. This crucial event happens between 15 and 20 days post-death. A two-thirds majority is necessary to elect a new pope. Unsuccessful rounds are noted by black smoke, while white smoke heralds the selection of a new pope. This traditional process sometimes extends several days; however, Pope Francis was elected in less than 24 hours.

Key Context

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, has died at 88 after pioneering a somewhat progressive papacy beginning in 2013, following Pope Benedict XVI’s historic resignation. His papal name honors St. Francis of Assisi, emulating a life dedicated to poverty.

During his tenure, Pope Francis advocated for greater acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals and criticized abortion laws, albeit taking a conservative stance against gender theory. In 2023, the Vatican declared priests could bless same-sex couples, but Francis later nuanced this stance, emphasizing blessings for love but not recognizing same-sex unions as marriages.

With bold calls for inclusive clerical participation and immigrant support, Pope Francis’s legacy is marked by a complex interplay of traditional and progressive values as the Cardinal Conclave looms on the ecclesiastical horizon.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

AI Spending Is Complicating The Fed’s Fight Against Inflation

by News Editor

August 12, 2026

Silicon Valley leaders have long argued that artificial intelligence will make technology and services dramatically cheaper. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has described a future where intelligence becomes extremely inexpensive, while Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has predicted that AI and robotics will create greater abundance and drive down costs.

So far, those benefits have yet to materialise at scale. AI adoption remains relatively slow, while the enormous investment needed for data centres and AI infrastructure is putting pressure on electricity prices, supply chains and other costs. For the Federal Reserve, this creates a difficult balancing act: AI could eventually boost productivity and reduce inflation, but its current buildout is contributing to higher prices.

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OpenAI chief economist Ronnie Chatterji said AI needs to be adopted by organisations and generate measurable value before its broader economic impact becomes visible in productivity statistics.

AI Adoption Remains Uneven

Capital spending on AI infrastructure in the U.S. is expected to reach $581 billion this year, according to Goldman Sachs Research, with global investment potentially reaching $1 trillion.

Despite the scale of spending, adoption remains far from universal. A May survey by the U.S. Census Bureau found that 17% to 20% of U.S. businesses reported using AI, with adoption significantly higher among large companies.

Companies that have implemented AI at scale also highlight the challenges. Julie Averill, former CIO of Lululemon, said successful deployment requires changes in employee behaviour and trust in the technology. OpenAI has observed a similar divide: its most advanced business users deploy AI at around eight times the rate of average companies.

Why Productivity Gains May Take Time

Economists point to the limits of automation. AI can perform individual tasks effectively, but many jobs combine tasks that are difficult to automate.

Stanford professor Charles Jones refers to these as “weak links”. Radiology, for example, involves interpreting scans but also communicating with patients and working with colleagues. AI can automate part of the job without eliminating the profession itself.

As a result, the full economic impact of AI may not become clear until businesses adopt the technology more broadly and reorganise their operations around it.

AI Adds To The Fed’s Policy Challenge

AI’s economic impact has become part of the Federal Reserve’s policy debate. Fed Chairman Kevin Warsh has argued that AI could eventually become a significant disinflationary force by increasing productivity and strengthening U.S. competitiveness.

Other officials are more cautious. In July, the Fed kept interest rates at 3.5% to 3.75%, while some officials expressed concern that AI infrastructure spending could add to inflationary pressures.

Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari pointed to massive data-centre investment as a new source of demand. Household electricity prices rose 10% in the two years through July, compared with a 6.2% increase in overall consumer prices. Meanwhile, shortages of chips and other AI components are pushing up costs. JPMorgan Chase estimates that DRAM prices could rise 400% by the end of 2026 compared with 2024.

Warsh has consequently adopted a more cautious tone, saying that while AI investment is laying the groundwork for future growth, the timing and scale of its economic effects remain difficult to predict.

For the Fed, the challenge is clear: AI could eventually deliver major productivity gains, but the cost of building that future is already showing up in the economy.