A nearly 1,000-year-old prophecy is making waves online following the death of Pope Francis, reigniting old discussions and raising new questions about the future of the papacy — and perhaps, according to some believers, the world itself.
On Monday, April 21, Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88, with the Vatican confirming the cause of death as a cerebral stroke that led to heart failure. As the Catholic Church enters a traditional nine-day mourning period, attention has turned not only to funeral arrangements and public memorials, but to the looming decision of selecting the next pope — a task as spiritually profound as it is politically sensitive within the Church.
Yet what has added a chill to this moment in history is the re-emergence of a medieval prophecy, said to have been written nearly a millennium ago by Saint Malachy, a 12th-century Archbishop of Armagh in Ireland. Known as the Prophecy of the Popes, this cryptic list has long fascinated occult enthusiasts and religious theorists alike, with many now wondering if we may have reached its final chapter.
According to the document — which surfaced in the 1500s but was attributed to Saint Malachy centuries earlier — there would be a total of 112 popes from the time of its writing until the end of the Church. Each pope is represented by a short Latin phrase, meant to symbolize the character or origin of that pontiff. The final entry, attributed to pope number 112, reads:
“In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit Peter the Roman, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations, and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The End.”
The idea that Pope Francis may have been the final pontiff has sparked a flurry of speculation online. Supporters of the prophecy point to intriguing, if somewhat tenuous, connections. For instance, Pope Francis took his papal name from Saint Francis of Assisi — whose father was named Pietro (Peter in English). Though Francis is not Roman by birth, some argue that his spiritual and administrative residence in Rome makes him, symbolically, “Peter the Roman.”
Even more unsettling to believers is the interpretation that the world itself could be facing a major reckoning. Some who subscribe to the prophecy speculate that the timeline points to the year 2027 as a potential endpoint for global stability — a theory that, while unsubstantiated, has nonetheless captured imaginations in an already turbulent era.
Critics, however, caution against reading too much into Saint Malachy’s so-called predictions. Most historians and theologians view the document as a forgery, likely written in the 16th century to influence a papal election at the time. There is no historical evidence that Saint Malachy ever wrote the list, and many of the earlier “predictions” seem to match known facts too conveniently, while those describing recent popes are notably vague.
Josh Canning, director of Toronto’s Newman Centre Chaplaincy, expressed skepticism back in 2013 when the prophecy first resurfaced amid the transition from Pope Benedict to Pope Francis. “I don’t know how you can connect Peter the Roman with Pope Francis,” he said, echoing many who dismiss the theory as religious folklore dressed in doom.
Still, the timing of the prophecy’s revival is striking. The world is currently facing numerous crises — climate instability, wars, displacement, and rising political division. The symbolism of a final pope reigning during a time of “great tribulation” has found new resonance among those already uneasy about the future.
For the faithful, however, the focus remains on honoring Pope Francis’s legacy and preparing for the solemn transition to the next leader of the Catholic Church. Whether the next pope is the so-called Peter the Roman, or simply the 267th spiritual shepherd of 1.3 billion Catholics, remains to be seen.
What do you think? Is the Prophecy of the Popes just another piece of religious folklore, or does it deserve a second look in light of recent events? Feel free to share your thoughts.