Doomsday Prophecy Resurfaces After Death of Pope Francis at 88
Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, a centuries-old prophecy claiming he would be the final leader of the Catholic Church has once again surfaced online—despite experts calling it a forgery.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, passed away at age 88 at the Domus Sanctae Marthae residence in Vatican City, according to Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell. He served as the 266th pope from March 13, 2013, until his death in 2025 and was the first Latin American to hold the position.
The Vatican marked the final day of mourning for Francis on Sunday, May 4. On Wednesday, cardinals will begin the formal papal conclave to elect the next pope.
However, some are pointing to a controversial prophecy that suggests there won’t be a next pope. The so-called Prophecy of the Popes, attributed to 12th-century Irish Archbishop St. Malachy and published in 1595 by Benedictine monk Arnold de Wyon, consists of 112 short Latin phrases said to predict each pope beginning with Celestine II in 1143.
According to this list, the 112th pope—believed by some to be Francis—is the final pontiff. The last phrase in the prophecy describes a figure known as “Peter the Roman,” who “will feed his flock amid many tribulations,” followed by the destruction of “the city of seven hills”—a reference often interpreted as Rome—and the appearance of a “dreadful Judge.”
The passage concludes simply: “The End.”
Conspiracy theorists argue that this signals the Catholic Church’s final chapter, and that no 113th pope will follow. Others believe the conclave will still elect a new pope, one who wasn’t predicted in Malachy’s writings—something that hasn’t happened in over 900 years.
But many scholars reject the prophecy’s authenticity.
Fr. James Weiss, an Episcopal priest and professor of church history at Boston College, told USA Today that the prophecy is likely a fabrication. “The examples for popes after 1590 are hit or miss,” he said, adding that many of the descriptions are so vague they could apply to almost anyone.
Weiss also challenges the common interpretation of the final prophecy. Rather than signaling the end of the world, he suggests it could reference a judgment or crisis involving a national leader, not a supernatural event.
The numbering of popes also adds to the confusion. While Francis is officially the 266th pope in church history, he is considered the 101st pope since Malachy’s time. Those who believe in the prophecy often include “antipopes”—leaders who claimed the papacy during historical schisms—in their count, which would make Francis the 112th.
Still, the process of choosing the next pope moves forward. Eligible cardinals will meet in the Sistine Chapel this week to cast secret ballots until a new leader is selected. Smoke from the chapel’s chimney—black for no decision, white for success—will signal the outcome to the world.
Among the top contenders are Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy), Cardinal Péter Erdő (Hungary), Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline (France), and Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa (Jerusalem).
Whether the next pope will mark a continuation of the Church’s centuries-old legacy—or the fulfillment of a dubious prophecy—remains to be seen.
