The funeral of Pope Francis in April 2025 served as a significant global gathering, uniting tens of thousands of mourners with a remarkable convergence of world leaders, transforming Vatican City into a hub for international diplomacy.
This unique event, drawing parallels with Pope John Paul II's funeral in 2005, saw numerous heads of state, government officials, and monarchs in attendance, leading to various diplomatic exchanges, both formal and informal, such as greetings involving Taiwan's representative and the late arrivals of several key leaders.
This convergence underscored the global influence of the Papacy and provided a snapshot of the geopolitical landscape in 2025, where even fleeting interactions carried symbolic weight.

The Holy See, governing Vatican City, is a unique entity with global spiritual influence that has navigated significant geopolitical transformations from the loss of the Papal States through the 20th and 21st centuries, always prioritising its universal mission.
The Holy See's diplomatic strategies shifted over time, from the "Prisoner in the Vatican" era and the Lateran Pacts, through neutrality during the World Wars and engagement during the Cold War, to its current focus on human rights, interfaith dialogue, and global issues.
Despite lacking conventional power, the Holy See exerts considerable soft power through its extensive diplomatic network, moral authority, and media apparatus, allowing it to influence international affairs.

Following the death of Pope Francis, the cardinals of the Catholic Church are gathering for a conclave to elect his successor, a momentous decision that will shape the future direction of the Church.

Pope Francis appointed the vast majority of the current cardinal electors, creating an unprecedented geographical diversity that could lead to complex voting dynamics and an unpredictable outcome.

Despite the many potential candidates with varying strengths, weaknesses, and theological leanings, the conclave's decision will ultimately hinge on whether the cardinals seek continuity with Francis's reforms or a shift in direction.

In this episode we describe how central banks transitioned from using conventional interest rate adjustments to unconventional monetary policies like Quantitative Easing (QE) following the 2008 Global Financial Crisis when interest rates hit the zero lower bound.

QE aimed to stabilise markets and stimulate economies by lowering long-term interest rates, but its decade-long use brought mixed results, including concerns about asset price inflation and financial stability.

The post-pandemic surge in inflation, a very different challenge from the deflationary fears after 2008, compelled central banks to reverse course by aggressively raising interest rates and initiating Quantitative Tightening (QT), leading to financial strains and a re-evaluation of future monetary policy frameworks.

In the 24 hours leading up to April 25, 2025, the world witnessed a dangerous escalation of tensions between India and Pakistan following a terrorist attack, alongside a continuing stalemate in the Russia-Ukraine war despite faltering peace efforts.

The global economy faced increasing strain due to intensifying US-led trade wars, while the Gaza conflict persisted with a severe humanitarian crisis and emerging public divisions within Palestinian leadership.

Furthermore, the United States moved forward with significant immigration policy changes, including the termination of the CHNV parole program, aligning with a broader strategy of stricter border control and reduced immigration.

Natural catastrophes throughout history have acted as significant forces in reshaping global politics. These events, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, cyclones, and droughts, have triggered political instability, economic disruption, social upheaval, and shifts in international relations, as evidenced by the Lisbon earthquake, the Bhola cyclone, and prolonged droughts affecting ancient civilisations and modern Syria. Ultimately, the geopolitical impact of disasters is heavily influenced by societal vulnerabilities and the effectiveness of human responses, highlighting the potential for international cooperation or the exacerbation of existing tensions

The US military is planning a fundamental transformation by 2050, driven by technological advancements and the resurgence of peer competition, primarily from China and Russia, necessitating a departure from past assumptions of dominance. This transformation envisions a force deeply integrated with advanced technologies like AI and autonomy, operating under new all-domain concepts such as JADC2 and MDO, and featuring a hybrid mix of manned and unmanned platforms across air, space, land, sea, and cyber domains. However, this ambitious modernisation faces significant challenges related to affordability, industrial capacity, and the complexities of joint integration and institutional adaptation.

The United States Military Force originated with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and has undergone continuous evolution driven by the nation's changing needs, global conflicts, and technological innovation.

Significant wars, such as the Civil War and the World Wars, have profoundly shaped its organisation, tactics, and technology, leading to a shift from muskets and sailing ships to modern firearms and naval vessels.

This evolution has been coupled with the development of strategic thought and a changing role in shaping both domestic and foreign policy.

The US military's history reflects a constant process of adaptation and innovation in response to evolving challenges, leaving an enduring legacy as a vital institution in American society.

South America has re-emerged as a key arena for geopolitical competition between the United States, China, Russia, and the European Union, each deploying distinct strategies to pursue their economic, political, and strategic interests. These global powers are vying for influence through economic engagement, security cooperation, diplomatic efforts, and information campaigns. This intense competition presents South American nations with opportunities for diversified partnerships and investment but also carries risks of economic dependency and geopolitical entanglement, as they strive for autonomy in a shifting global order.

Throughout history, gold has served as a crucial geopolitical tool, financing empires and stabilising currencies, and its intrinsic qualities have made it a symbol of wealth and permanence.

In the modern era, despite the shift to fiat currencies, central banks are strategically accumulating gold as a safe-haven asset, a means of diversification, and a hedge against geopolitical risks and the dominance of the US dollar.

Gold's future trajectory is influenced by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and the strategic decisions of central banks, suggesting its  importance in the 21st century.