It is likely that the next pope not only knows about bitcoin but also understands why it exists and why it is necessary.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly known as Robert Prevost, has just begun his pontificate. At 69 years old at the time of his election and considering the current life expectancy, it is reasonable to assume that he could lead the Catholic Church for about two decades, if health permits.
This leads us to imagine a not-so-distant future, around the year 2045, when a new pope will be elected. And if the world continues in the direction it is heading today, it is inevitable to consider something that today may sound like heresy to some, but a simple projection for those of us closely following the economic and technological transformations: the next pope will know about Bitcoin.
Pope Leo XIV has not said a single word about cryptocurrencies or bitcoin. Nor is there any need: he has other priorities such as artificial intelligence, digital ethics, and evangelization in secularized societies, which he has already made clear in his early speeches.
down and evangelization in secularized societies, which he has already made clear in his early speeches.
This omission of bitcoin by the supreme pontiff is also a sign of the times. We are at a historic moment where it is still possible, from the most influential religious leadership in the world, to look the other way when talking about decentralized money, structural inflation, or the collapse of the fiat system.
But that window is closing. Whoever assumes the papacy in about 20 years will not be able to ignore the topic. By then, bitcoin will likely have ceased to be a novelty or a speculative instrument and will have consolidated as the backbone —or at least, a highly important part— of a new financial architecture. It will no longer be about 'talking about bitcoin,' but about understanding the world through bitcoin, with all the philosophical, economic, political, and even religious consequences that entails.
Day after day, it is documented how bitcoin is gaining ground in the minds of individuals, communities, businesses, investment funds, governments, and even nation-states.