The death of Pope Francis has sent Catholics all over the world into prolonged mourning. Known for his humility, advocacy for the poor, and efforts to reform the Catholic Church, this pope’s death marks the end of a highly-regarded and much -beloved papacy.
As everyone waits to see what happens next, a centuries-old prophecy attributed to Saint Malachy, a 12th century Irish archbishop, is drawing renewed attention. Known as the Prophecy of the Popes, it lists 112 pontiffs of the future and describes each with a cryptic Latin motto, culminating in a final pope called "Peter the Roman." This figure, according to the prophecy, will lead the Catholic Church through great trials and tribulations, after which Rome will face destruction, bringing on the final judgment.
Was Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff, the prophesied Peter the Roman? If so, his death could signal the beginning of an apocalyptic era.
Saint Malachy’s Prophecy: Its Hits and Misses
Saint Malachy, born Máel Máedóc Ua Morgair in 1094 in Armagh, Ireland, was an important figure in Irish Catholicism, having been canonized as the first Irish saint.
During a 1139 visit to Rome, Malachy had a vision in which he saw a long line of future popes. He described them all with 112 short Latin phrases, each purportedly describing a pontiff from Pope Celestine II (elected in 1143) to the last, Peter the Roman. The prophecy was not actually published until 1595, when Benedictine monk Arnold Wion included it in his book Lignum Vitae.
Saint Malachy, the first Irish saint. (har2220).
The prophecy’s final entry is its most ominous: “In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End.”
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The Prophecy of the Popes has been both celebrated and scrutinized for its apparent accuracy in describing certain popes. In several instances it does seem like the specifics of the prophecies align with actual historical popes.
For example, the motto for John XXII (1316-1334) translates to “from the bony shoemaker,” and he was in fact the son of a shoemaker. The motto of Urban VIII (1623-1644) meant “lily and rose,” and his family coat of arms featured lilies and roses. In more modern times, the motto of John Paul II (1978-2005) translated to “from the labor of the sun,” and he was born during a solar eclipse. Meanwhile Benedict XVI (2005-2013) had a motto that meant “glory of the olive,” and in fact he chose the name Benedict which is linked to the Olivean order.
The prophecy’s accuracy does seem to decline after 1595, with later mottos becoming vaguer. The prophecy’s inclusion of antipopes and its numbering discrepancies—sometimes two ahead of the Vatican’s official count—further complicate its interpretation.
Final part of the prophecies in Lignum Vitæ (1595), p. 311. (Arnold Wion/Public Domain).
Pope Francis: The Last Pope?
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, was the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas. His choice of the name Francis, inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi, reflected his commitment to poverty, humility, and environmental stewardship. In the context of the Prophecy of the Popes, many identify him as the 112th pope, Peter the Roman, following Benedict XVI, who is widely associated with the 111th motto, “Gloria olivae.”
Saint Francis of Assisi’s father was named Pietro (Italian for Peter), and Francis’s Italian heritage - his parents were Italian immigrants - could qualify him as “Roman”. Some also interpret his papacy’s challenges, such as addressing clergy abuse scandals and navigating global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, as the “tribulations” mentioned in the prophecy
However, Pope Francis never referred to himself as Peter the Roman, and his birth name lacks any direct link to Peter. Moreover, some interpretations allow for additional popes between the 111th and 112th, suggesting that Peter the Roman could be a future pontiff.
The Implications of the Prophecy
If the Prophecy of the Popes were to be fulfilled, the implications would be profound.
The prophecy’s prediction of the Church’s “final persecution” and Rome’s destruction could trigger a crisis of faith among Catholics, challenging the institution’s authority. Conversely, it might inspire a spiritual renewal, with believers seeking deeper connection to their faith in anticipation of the end times. The prophecy’s apocalyptic imagery aligns with certain Christian themes, specifically those from the Book of Revelation.
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Conceivably, the prophecy could fuel a surge in doomsday fears and public fascination with end-times scenarios, similar to the Y2K panic. It might also prompt interfaith dialogue, as other religions have their own eschatological traditions to explore.
St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, photo taken from St. Peter’s Dome. (Diliff/CC BY-SA 3.0)
Such scenarios, however, assume the prophecy’s validity, which is far from certain, as can be seen in the range of reactions it has provoked. While a large section of the public seems to be taking it seriously, scholars are mostly skeptical.
For example, Joëlle Rollo-Koster, a medieval history professor, argues that the prophecy’s late publication and lack of contemporary evidence point to a 16th-century forgery, possibly intended to create support for a candidate for pope alive at that time. The prophecy’s accuracy before 1595 and vagueness thereafter reinforce this view, as does its inclusion of antipopes, which confuses the papal count.
When Ancient Prophecy Meets Global Uncertainty
Many cultures have end-times myths, from the Norse Ragnarök to the Hindu Kali Yuga, suggesting a universal human impulse to anticipate and prepare for cataclysmic change (or perhaps a collective historical memory of past global catastrophes). The Prophecy of the Popes connects with this impulse, reminding many people of the fragility of life on both an individual and collective scale.
The death of Pope Francis marks a pivotal moment for the Catholic Church, regardless of the Prophecy of the Popes’ accuracy. The Church faces significant challenges, such as declining attendance in Western nations and the ongoing clergy abuse scandals. The next pope—assuming of course that there is one—will be serving in a complex and fragile environment, while facing the challenge of replacing a man who was universally popular and respected.
Top image: Pope Francis during a visit to Kazakhstan in 2022.
Source: Yakov Fedorov/CC BY-SA 4.0.
