Prophecies about the Popes: Commonalities and Divergences

The prophecies of St. Malachy—about which we published an article yesterday—are not the only ones addressing the end of the papacy or the apocalypse. There are parallels with other visions and predictions, both Christian and secular, that have fueled interest in the fate of the Catholic Church:
 
Nostradamus: The 16th-century French seer, in his Centuries, mentions a “Black Pope” as the last pontiff before the end of the world. Some have linked this figure to Francis, given his membership in the Society of Jesus, whose superior is known as the “Black Pope” due to his influence and the color of his attire. Nostradamus also predicts the death of an elderly pope, which some associate with Francis, especially after his recent hospitalization. However, Nostradamus’s prophecies are even more ambiguous than Malachy’s, allowing for diverse interpretations.
 
Fatima Prophecies: The third secret of Fatima, revealed in 2000, describes a “bishop dressed in white” walking among ruins and being attacked, which some interpret as the end of the papacy. The election of Francis, who appeared in a simple white cassock and referred to himself as the “bishop of Rome,” has been linked to this vision. However, the Vatican has clarified that this secret refers to the assassination attempts on John Paul II and not a future apocalyptic event.
 
Garabandal: In the Marian apparitions of Garabandal (Spain, 1961-1965), the visionary Conchita González claimed that the Virgin revealed there would be only three more popes after John XXIII before the “end of times.” Counting Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI, Francis would be a fourth pope, leading to reinterpretations of this prophecy as a “change of era” rather than the end of the world.
 
Prophecies of St. John Bosco: This 19th-century saint had visions of the Church navigating a stormy sea, guided by two pillars (the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary). Some see parallels with the period of tribulations described by Malachy, though they do not explicitly mention a final pope.
 
Prophecies of John XXIII: The book The Prophecies of Pope John XXIII: The History of Humanity from 1935 to 2033 (1976), written by Italian journalist Pier Carpi, presents a series of alleged prophetic visions attributed to Angelo Roncalli (John XXIII) during his time in Turkey in 1935, following supernatural experiences in a Rosicrucian ritual. Carpi claims an anonymous elderly man provided him with these documents, which predict events such as World War II, Hitler’s suicide, John XXIII’s death during the Second Vatican Council, and a supposed “Last Judgment” in 2033. Other prophecies include a woman as U.S. president, an African dictator, and a pope who becomes a “pilgrim stripped of riches.” However, these prophecies are highly controversial, and critics, such as some readers in reviews, consider them “unintelligible,” “anachronistic,” and lacking authenticity, noting that Carpi’s prologue about how he obtained the documents is the only noteworthy part. The lack of historical evidence linking Roncalli to the Rosicrucians and the vagueness of the predictions suggest the book may be a sensationalist work rather than a reliable source. While it shares with Malachy’s prophecies an apocalyptic tone and the idea of an end to a cycle, its modern origin and poetic but confusing style distinguish it as a more speculative than theological narrative.
 
Authenticity and Criticism
 
Despite their popularity, the prophecies of St. Malachy are subject to skepticism. Historians note that there is no evidence of their existence before 1595, 450 years after Malachy’s death, and that St. Bernard of Clairvaux, his biographer, mentions no prophecies. Furthermore, the mottos are precise up to 1590 but vague and forced for later popes, suggesting they could be a forgery created to influence a conclave, possibly in favor of Cardinal Girolamo Simoncelli. The Jesuit Claude-François Ménestrier and the Benedictine Benito Jerónimo Feijóo argued that the list is a 16th-century invention.
 
The Vatican does not officially recognize these prophecies, considering them lacking in theological validity and more a historical curiosity than a divine prediction. Similarly, the prophecies of John XXIII by Pier Carpi have no ecclesiastical backing and are viewed as an esoteric work without historical foundation. However, none of these prophecies have been banned, and they continue to spark debate, especially during times of papal transition.
 
Conclusion
 
According to the prophecies of St. Malachy, Pope Francis is likely the 112th pope, Petrus Romanus, whose arrival would mark the end of the papacy and, for some, the apocalypse. If considered the 111th pope, the next pontiff would be Petrus Romanus, a reformer or a leader in times of crisis. The similarities with the prophecies of Nostradamus, Fatima, Garabandal, St. John Bosco, and John XXIII according to Pier Carpi reinforce the fascination with these predictions, though all share a cryptic and speculative nature. Carpi’s prophecies, in particular, add a modern and esoteric element, but their lack of historical rigor relegates them to a more literary than prophetic plane. Despite their cultural impact, the authenticity of all these prophecies remains in doubt, and the Catholic Church invites the faithful to focus on faith rather than apocalyptic speculations. Meanwhile, the world awaits the next conclave, which could shed new light on this millennial mystery.
 

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