Prophecy dating back 1000 years predicts the next Pope… but comes with a warning for humanity about Judgement Day

On Easter Monday (April 22), it was announced that Pope Francis had died aged 88 following a cerebral stroke which left him in a coma and ultimately caused irreversible heart failure

The devastating news was confirmed by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, who said: “At 7.35am this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church.

“He taught us to live the values ​​of the Gospel with fidelity, courage and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised,” he continued. “With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

The somber news marked the beginning of a nine-day mourning period and the start of preparations for selecting his successor.

Among speculation surrounding who will step into the role, renewed interest has emerged around a nearly 900-year-old text known as the Prophecy of the Popes.

Believed by some to have been written in the 1100s by Irish saint Malachy, the book lists 112 cryptic phrases – each supposedly describing a future pope. As of now, only one name remains: “Peter the Roman”.

The final entry, as cited in the ancient text, 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.”

That “seven-hilled city” is widely interpreted to be Rome, prompting apocalyptic concerns from believers who suggest the prophecy predicts the destruction of the Vatican and the arrival of Judgement Day.

Adding fuel to the fire is the belief that this world-ending event may take place as early as 2027, which is just two years away.

The book predicts when Judgment Day is. Credit: 

Despite its sensational claims, the Prophecy of the Popes has long faced scrutiny from historians and religious scholars alike.

Though it was initially attributed to Saint Malachy following a supposed vision during a visit to Rome in 1139, many scholars argue it is a forgery created centuries later. It is widely believed that Benedictine monk Arnold Wion first published the text in 1595, possibly as an attempt to influence the papal election in favor of a friend – a strategy that ultimately failed.

Still, for some, the apparent accuracy of several past predictions in the book lends it an eerie credibility.

As reported by Irish Central, the 111th pope was said to be called Gloria Olivae (“Glory of the Olive”), which some have linked to Pope Benedict XVI, citing the Order of Saint Benedicts, also known as the Olivetans. Another line, the phrase De labore Solis (“eclipse of the sun”), was linked to Pope John Paul II, who was born during a solar eclipse.

Yet, the suggestion that the final figure in the prophecy – “Peter the Roman” – refers to the late Pope Francis is widely contested. Josh Canning, director of Toronto’s Chaplaincy at the Newman Centre, remarked in 2013 via Global News: “I don’t know how you can connect Peter the Roman with Pope Francis.”

Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, neither bore the name Peter nor adopted it upon his ascension to the papacy. Papal historian Anura Guruge further emphasized that while the text is attributed to Malachy, there is no conclusive evidence that he was the true author.

With Pope Francis set to be laid to rest this weekend and the College of Cardinals preparing to elect his successor, speculation surrounding Peter the Roman and the fate of the “seven-hilled city” is once again making headlines.