Pope Francis, Number 112, and the Prophecies of St. Malachy

The prophecies of St. Malachy, attributed to the 12th-century Irish archbishop, have captivated theologians, historians, and believers for centuries due to their alleged ability to predict the succession of popes until the end of time. These prophecies, published in 1595 by the Benedictine monk Arnoldo Wion in his work Lignum Vitae, consist of a list of 112 Latin mottos that cryptically describe the pontiffs from Celestine II (1143-1144) to a final pope known as Petrus Romanus (Peter the Roman). In this article, we will explore Pope Francis’s place in this list, the next pope according to the prophecy, and similarities with other predictions about the end of the papacy.
 
Pope Francis: Number 112?
 
According to the chronology of St. Malachy’s prophecies, Pope Francis, elected in 2013 following the resignation of Benedict XVI, would be the 112th pope, the last on the list. The motto associated with this pontiff is Petrus Romanus, accompanied by an apocalyptic quote: “In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, Peter the Roman will reign, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations; after which, the city of the seven hills will be destroyed, and the Terrible Judge will judge his people. The End.” This description has led to speculation about whether Francis, whose secular name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, fits the figure of Petrus Romanus.
 
Several elements have fueled this interpretation. Francis has emphasized his title of “Bishop of Rome,” a nod to the “Roman” qualifier in the prophecy. Additionally, he chose the name Francis in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, whose second name was Peter, which some consider a symbolic connection. It is also noted that Francis has signed official documents in Italian instead of Latin, which could be interpreted as a modern “Roman” gesture. However, these connections are speculative, as Malachy’s mottos are vague enough to allow multiple interpretations.
 
On the other hand, some interpreters suggest that Francis is not Petrus Romanus but rather the 111th pope, associated with the motto Gloria Olivae (Glory of the Olive), commonly attributed to Benedict XVI due to his link with the Benedictine Order, whose symbol includes an olive. In this case, the next pope would be the 112th, Petrus Romanus. This discrepancy arises because the list includes antipopes and because the exact numbering depends on how the pontiffs are counted, sparking debate among scholars.
 
The Next Pope: Petrus Romanus or an Ecclesiastical Reform?
 
If we accept that Francis is the 112th pope, then there would be no next pope according to the prophecy, as Petrus Romanus would mark the end of the papacy and, possibly, the end of times. The description of Petrus Romanus suggests a pontiff who will guide the Church through a period of extreme crisis, followed by the destruction of Rome (the “city of the seven hills”) and a divine judgment. However, some researchers, such as Gabriel Wüldenmar, propose that the pope following Francis could be a “great reformer” who establishes a collegial government, transforming the Church’s structure without a traditional papacy, rather than marking an apocalyptic end.
 
On the other hand, if Francis is considered the 111th pope, the next pontiff would be Petrus Romanus. During the 2013 conclave, names like Péter Erdő, Peter Turkson, and Odilo Pedro Scherer—all bearing the name Peter—were speculated as possible candidates who could fulfill the prophecy. However, these speculations did not materialize, and the next conclave (still without a date as of April 2025) could bring new surprises.
 

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“Fleeing into silence”: https://a.co/d/7SUfVb3