Importance Score: 75 / 100 π΄
Prophecy of the Popes Resurfaces Following Pope Francis’ Death, Igniting Succession Speculation
The unexpected death of Pope Francis has thrust a 900-year-old prophetic manuscript into the global spotlight. This 12th-century document, known as the “Prophecy of the Popes,” purportedly unearthed within the Vatican’s secret archives, claims to foresee the identity of Francis’s successor and even predict the return of Christ. The renewed attention to this ancient text has captivated observers worldwide as the Catholic Church prepares for the selection of a new leader.
Ancient Manuscript Predicts Future Popes and Judgment Day
The “Prophecy of the Popes” comprises a sequence of enigmatic Latin phrases, each believed to correspond to a specific pope, commencing with Celestine II in 1143 and culminating with “Peter the Roman” in 2027. Fueling heightened intrigue is the notable fact that among the leading contenders to succeed Pope Francis, three share the name Peter. This confluence of events has reinvigorated discussions and concerns surrounding one of the prophecy’s more unsettling predictions: the imminence of Judgment Day.
2027 and the Second Coming: A Prophetic Timeline
Many Christians interpret the year 2027 as potentially marking the Second Coming of Christ, the prophesied return of Jesus Christ to Earth to judge both the living and the deceased. According to interpretations of the “Prophecy of the Popes,” this significant date is now less than two years away, adding a layer of eschatological anticipation to the papal transition.
Pope Francis’ Death and the Papal Conclave
Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 on Monday, succumbing to a suspected cerebral hemorrhage after a prolonged period of respiratory ailments. Following established Catholic tradition, a nine-day mourning period will precede the commencement of the process to elect his successor. Cardinals from across the world will converge on Rome for the upcoming conclave, the assembly tasked with choosing the next pope.
The Papal Conclave: Electing a New Pontiff
The papal conclave, the formal procedure for selecting a new pope, must begin within 15 to 20 days following the death of the preceding pope. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to cast their votes, and a two-thirds majority is necessary to secure the election of a new pontiff, highlighting the gravity and complexity of this selection process.

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Saint Malachy and the Prophecy’s Origins
The “Prophecy of the Popes” is attributed to Saint Malachy, who is credited with its creation. This manuscript features 112 concise, cryptic phrases purportedly delineating each future pope until Judgment Day. The final entry, concerning “Peter the Roman,” indicates that this “last pope” will govern the Church during an era of considerable upheaval, ultimately leading to the destruction of Rome and the conclusion of the papacy.
“Peter the Roman” and the End Times
The prophecy’s concluding passage concerning “Peter the Roman” reads: “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.” While some previously misconstrued the prophecy to mean “Peter the Roman” would succeed Pope Francis during earlier health concerns, others believed Malachy predicted Francis himself to be the final pontiff in this prophetic sequence.
Scholarly Interpretations and the 2027 Timeline
Over time, biblical scholars have extensively analyzed the timeline associated with these future popes and their respective reigns over the Catholic Church. Certain scholars propose that the text marked its midpoint in 1585, after the initial 442 years of prophecies. This interpretation positions the terminal year of Malachy’s prophecy as 2027, aligning with current eschatological speculations.
Forgery Claims and Historical Accuracy
Despite claims from some scholars asserting the text to be a 16th-century forgery, tradition holds that Malachy purportedly composed the “Prophecy of the Popes” in 1139 after experiencing a vision during a visit to Rome. The assertions of forgery partly arise from the distinct shift in descriptive accuracy. The descriptions of popes are remarkably precise and accurate up to around 1590. Post 1590, the phrases become considerably more ambiguous and subjective, although some surprisingly apt phrases can still be identified in more recent times.
Notable Prophecies: Benedict XVI and John Paul II
One prophecy identifies the 111th pope as “the glory of the Olive,” which some historians believe accurately describes Pope Benedict XVI, who belonged to the Olivetan Order, a monastic order also known as the Order of Olivetans. He served as pope from 2005 to 2013. Another prophetic phrase, “of the eclipse of the sun,” is widely speculated to refer to Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla), who was born during a solar eclipse and reigned from 1978 to 2005.
Potential Successors Named Peter
Among the numerous individuals considered frontrunners to succeed Pope Francis are three cardinals bearing the name Peter: Peter ErdΕ of Hungary, regarded as a leading conservative candidate; Peter Turkson of Ghana, a prominent figure within the Church’s social justice advocacy; and Pietro Parolin of Italy, a highly seasoned Vatican official. The presence of these candidates with the name Peter has amplified the prophetic discussions.
Connecting Francis to “Peter the Roman”
Prior to his passing, some individuals attempted to link Pope Francis to the prophecy of “Peter the Roman,” citing his Italian heritage and his birth name, Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone. This connection further intensified the speculation surrounding Francis’s role in the context of the ancient predictions.
Historical Seriousness of the Prophecies
The prophecies attributed to Saint Malachy have been taken seriously by some within the Church for decades. Illustratively, in 1958, preceding the conclave that elected Pope John XXIII, Cardinal Spellman of New York reportedly hired a boat filled with sheep and sailed on the Tiber River to symbolically demonstrate that he was “pastor et nautor,” the motto associated with the predicted next Pope according to the prophecies.
Resurgence of Prophecy Amidst Papal Health Concerns
While discovered centuries ago, the “Prophecy of the Popes” recently resurfaced in prominence when Pope Francis experienced respiratory crises in February, highlighting the cyclical nature of interest in these ancient predictions, especially during times of papal transition or uncertainty.
Judgment Day Speculation Intensifies
Speculation concerning the impending arrival of Judgment Day has grown more intense over the preceding year as Pope Francis’s health declined, feeding into existing anxieties and interpretations of the prophecies. A 2024 documentary focused on a passage attributed to Pope Sixtus V from 1585, “Axle in the midst of a sign,” purportedly signifying the halfway point of Malachy’s prophecy.
The 1585 Midpoint and the 2027 End Date
Pope Sixtus V led the Church 442 years after the first pope mentioned by Malachy, and the aforementioned passage suggests his papacy marked the midpoint of the prophecy. Based on this interpretation, the conclusion of the world would occur 442 years later, in 2027, a mere 20 months following the death of Pope Francis, further amplifying the sense of urgency and prophetic significance surrounding these events.
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