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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.
A chance
encounter will take him far away, on a thrilling adventure full of action and
emotion that will change his life... but also the lives of everyone around him…
“Fleeing into silence”: https://a.co/d/7SUfVb3
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.
A chance
encounter will take him far away, on a thrilling adventure full of action and
emotion that will change his life... but also the lives of everyone around him…
“Fleeing into silence”: https://a.co/d/7SUfVb3
2 weeks ago
