The Final Pope? Ancient Prophecy Resurfaces Following Pope Francis’s Death
Ancient Doomsday Prophecy Resurfaces Following Pope Francis’s Death—But Experts Urge Caution
An age-old legend has resurfaced in the wake of Pope Francis’s death, sparking speculation that he may have been the last pope foretold by an ominous prophecy. However, historians and religious scholars alike are urging people not to jump to apocalyptic conclusions.
The prophecy in question is attributed to 12th-century Irish saint, St. Malachy, who supposedly predicted a list of 112 future popes. According to the legend, the final pope—number 112—would oversee the Church during its destruction. With Pope Francis passing away on April 21 at age 88, some believe he may have fulfilled that final spot.
This theory has captivated imaginations for centuries, reemerging during many papal transitions. It even gained traction through modern media, including the 2018 History Channel documentary The Last Pope? and a 1922 New York Times article claiming eerie accuracy in the prophecies.
However, experts widely dismiss the list as a fabrication. “The prophecies are a forgery,” said Fr. James Weiss, an Episcopal priest and professor of church history at Boston College. He notes that the list first appeared in the 1590s—nearly 450 years after Malachy’s death—and was likely created to support a particular papal candidate of that era.
The list consists of 112 cryptic Latin phrases—such as “swift bear” or “rose of Umbria”—supposedly describing each pope, beginning with Celestine II in 1143. Scholars say that while many early descriptions seem accurate, this is only because the list was likely written after those events. Later entries become vague or irrelevant.
The 112th pope is labeled “Peter the Roman,” and the accompanying passage describes a time of great tribulation, interpreted by some as signaling the end of the world. Yet, scholars like Weiss caution against doomsday readings, suggesting the text could just as easily reference symbolic or political upheaval rather than literal apocalypse.
Joëlle Rollo-Koster, a medieval historian at the University of Rhode Island, points out a major historical flaw: no mention of any prophecy appears in the writings of St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a contemporary and close friend of St. Malachy, who even wrote Malachy’s biography.
Even so, believers have sometimes found uncanny connections. For instance, the phrase “from the labor of the sun” has been linked to Pope John Paul II, who was both born and buried during solar eclipses. But others, like “swift bear” for Pope Clement XIV—a slow, hesitant man—require strained logic to fit.
Ultimately, while the legend of St. Malachy may be intriguing and compelling, historical evidence suggests it's a clever forgery rather than a divine roadmap. As Weiss puts it, “People have been trying to squeeze reality into this list for centuries. That doesn’t make it prophecy. It makes it fiction.”
Would you like a quick summary of the prophecy’s main claims and why experts dispute them?
Is Pope Francis the Final Pontiff? Prophecy and Reality Collide
Pope Francis, the 266th pope in the history of the Catholic Church, has stirred renewed speculation over a centuries-old prophecy that suggests he may be the last pope. But despite the viral buzz, experts are clear: there's far more fiction than fact behind the claim.
The theory traces back to the Prophecy of the Popes, attributed to 12th-century Irish bishop St. Malachy, which allegedly lists 112 pontiffs from his time onward. Although Francis is only the 101st pope officially recognized by the Church since Malachy’s era, believers often count several “antipopes”—rival claimants to the papacy during times of schism—bringing the tally to 112.
The final entry in Malachy’s prophecy describes a pope known as “Peter the Roman,” said to preside during the Church’s tribulations and the destruction of the “city of seven hills”—a common reference to Rome. Pope Francis, however, doesn't quite match this description. Some proponents stretch the link by pointing out that Francis took his name from St. Francis of Assisi, whose father was named Pietro (Peter). But that connection is a reach at best.
There's also debate over the structure of the prophecy itself. One theory suggests that a punctuation ambiguity might imply an unspecified number of popes between the 111th and “Peter the Roman.” Others, like Boston College historian Fr. James Weiss, dismiss this as likely nothing more than a centuries-old typographical error.
“It’s hard to apply rational logic to something fundamentally irrational,” said Joëlle Rollo-Koster, a medieval historian at the University of Rhode Island. “This is someone in the 16th century inventing patterns to support a political goal.”
The Church, meanwhile, is focused on the future. A conclave of cardinals is scheduled to begin May 7, where they will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. The world will watch for white smoke—a sign that a successor has been chosen.
As speculation swirls, scholars urge believers to center their faith not in coded predictions but in the Gospel message itself.
“The real test of faith isn’t found in conspiracy theories or apocalyptic forecasts,” said Weiss. “It’s in how we respond to the world’s needs—something Pope Francis championed through his work for peace, the poor, and the planet.”
Would you like a visual timeline of the popes from St. Malachy’s list to Pope Francis?