Ancient ‘Doomsday’ Prophecy Resurfaces Following the Death of Pope Francis at 88
A centuries-old prophecy, dismissed by many scholars as a forgery, has once again captured global attention following the death of Pope Francis at age 88.
According to Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Pope passed away peacefully on Easter Monday morning, April 21, at Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis made history as the first Latin American leader of the Catholic Church, serving from March 13, 2013, until his death in 2025.
As the Vatican marked the final day of mourning on Sunday, May 4, and prepared for a new papal conclave beginning Wednesday, speculation reignited around a mysterious text known as The Prophecy of the Popes.
This cryptic work—first published in 1595 by Benedictine monk Arnold de Wyon—claims to outline a list of 112 popes, beginning with Celestine II in 1143. The final name on the list, many believe, refers to Pope Francis. If true, this would mean he was the last pope—leaving no successor.
The prophecy is attributed to 12th-century Irish saint and Archbishop of Armagh, Malachy, though its authenticity has long been disputed. Many historians argue it accurately matches popes only up to the late 1500s, after which its vague descriptions appear forced or inconsistent.
Still, conspiracy theorists and doomsday enthusiasts are abuzz. Some claim the next conclave will fail to elect a pope, while others believe the new pontiff would mark a break from the prophetic line—making him the first unlisted pope in over 900 years.
Fr. James Weiss, a church historian and professor at Boston College, dismissed the apocalyptic narrative, telling USA Today that the prophecy is “a forgery.” He added that most of its post-1590 descriptions are “hit or miss,” with wildly varying accuracy.
Regardless of its authenticity, the reemergence of the prophecy in the wake of Pope Francis’s death has stirred intrigue across religious and secular communities alike—reviving one of the most mysterious legends in Catholic history.
A brief but chilling passage in The Prophecy of the Popes refers to the 112th and final pope as “Peter the Roman,” a cryptic title that has fueled apocalyptic speculation for centuries. Some interpret this line as a harbinger of the end times or even the Second Coming of Christ.
The prophecy’s final paragraph paints a dramatic scene:
“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.”
The reference to the “seven-hilled city” is widely believed to point to Rome, amplifying fears of destruction and divine judgment.
However, not all scholars are convinced by this doomsday interpretation.
Fr. James Weiss, professor of church history at Boston College, offers a more grounded reading. He suggests the passage may not predict an apocalyptic event at all, but could instead refer to a moment of moral reckoning for a political leader or a nation—not necessarily the fall of the Church or the end of the world.
Mystery and Prophecy Surround Papal Succession as Vatican Mourns Pope Francis
Pope Francis—the 266th pontiff in the history of the Catholic Church—passed away at age 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, at Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City. As the Church prepares to elect his successor, an ancient and controversial prophecy has reemerged, reigniting age-old speculation about the end of days.
Taking his name from Saint Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis was the first Latin American pope and served from 2013 until his death in 2025. He is officially the 101st pope recognized since the time of Saint Malachy, the 12th-century Irish archbishop credited with writing The Prophecy of the Popes.
Yet according to church historian Fr. James Weiss, counting papal succession is more complicated than it appears. “Believers in Malachy’s prophecy include in the count a few of those antipopes—figures not formally recognized by the Vatican,” USA Today reports. Because the Church once saw multiple claimants to the papacy simultaneously, some have identified Pope Francis as the 112th pope on Malachy’s list—allegedly the final one.
The prophecy’s last cryptic passage refers to this pope as “Peter the Roman,” a mysterious figure said to shepherd the Church through great tribulations. It concludes with a chilling vision:
“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.”
The “seven-hilled city” is widely interpreted as Rome, prompting some to view this as a prediction of the apocalypse or the Second Coming of Christ.
But Weiss offers a different take. He cautions against reading the text too literally or prophetically, suggesting that the passage may instead refer to a moment of accountability—perhaps involving a nation or its leaders—rather than a literal end-of-the-world event.
Regardless of the prophecy’s meaning, one fact remains: the Church must now choose its next leader. The formal conclave of cardinals begins this week in the Sistine Chapel, a ritual steeped in secrecy and tradition. The world will watch the chapel’s tiny chimney for a wisp of white smoke—the signal that a new pope has been elected.
Among the frontrunners are Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Peter Erdo, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, and Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa. Yet in a process known for surprises and spiritual discernment, nothing is certain.
As the Church looks to the future, the shadow of an ancient prophecy lingers—stirring both curiosity and concern across the globe.
As Vatican Prepares for Conclave, Prophetic Speculation Grows Around Pope Francis’s Successor
Taking his papal name from Saint Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis became the 266th pope in the history of the Catholic Church—and the 101st officially recognized since the era of Saint Malachy, the 12th-century archbishop behind the infamous Prophecy of the Popes.
Yet the count isn’t as straightforward as it seems. According to Fr. James Weiss, a church historian at Boston College, some believers in Malachy’s prophecy include historical “antipopes”—rival claimants to the papacy not officially recognized by the Vatican. Including these figures, they argue, Pope Francis could be seen as the 112th pope on Malachy’s prophetic list—the last pope before the end times.
As USA Today reports: “Believers in Malachy’s prophecy include in the count a few of those antipopes—figures not formally recognized by the Vatican.”
Still, prophecy or not, the Church now moves forward. This week, cardinals from around the world will gather in the Sistine Chapel to begin the sacred and secretive process of selecting the next pope. The conclave will continue behind closed doors until a successor is chosen.
Among the top contenders are Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Peter Erdo, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, and Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa—though the process is known for unexpected outcomes.
When the decision is made, a small chimney atop the Sistine Chapel will emit white smoke, signaling to the world that a new leader of the Catholic Church has been chosen.