By Ghazali Ibrahim 
On November 6, 2024, an X user, Anthony, a serial controversialist, made a prediction surrounding the next pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church after the deteriorating news of Pope Francis health surfaced.
The tweet has garnered renewed attention following the election of Pope Leo XIV.
The tweet read: “Presidency is locked up. Next up the Papacy. We await the election of Pope Leo XIV.”
The post celebrated the emergence of President Donald Trump after he won the election against his rival, Kamala Harris as an achievement for the United States against the world.
“Next up the papacy”, suggest another Pope from the United States with a suggested name, Leo XIV.
While many argued the authenticity of the post,
Grok, an AI chatbot developed by xAI, a startup founded by Elon Musk confirmed the veracity of the post.
At the time, the tweet was perceived by many as a speculative or humorous remark, juxtaposing political developments with the impending papal conclave.
However, the subsequent election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV on May 8, 2025, has led to a reevaluation of the post, with some viewing it as an uncanny prediction.
Pope Leo XIV’s ascent to the papacy marks several historic firsts: he is the first American-born pope, the first from the Order of Saint Augustine, and the first pontiff to hold dual citizenship in the United States and Peru.
His election followed the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, and was confirmed by the appearance of white smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney, signaling to the world that a new pope had been chosen.
In his inaugural address, Pope Leo XIV emphasized themes of peace, unity, and the ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies, notably artificial intelligence.
He has expressed a commitment to continuing the inclusive and reformative mission initiated by his predecessor, focusing on defending human dignity and justice in an increasingly digital world.
The resurfacing of Anthony tweet has sparked discussions across social media platforms, with users marveling at its prescience.
