In the wake of Pope Francis’s death on April 21, 2025, a nearly 1,000-year-old prophecy has garnered new attention. The Prophecy of the Popes, attributed to Saint Malachy, an Archbishop of Armagh in the 12th century, has long been a source of intrigue. The prophecy allegedly predicts 112 popes, with the last one—often interpreted as Pope Francis—ushering in apocalyptic events.

Malachy’s prophecy refers to a final pope, “Peter the Roman,” who will lead the Church through great tribulations before the “city of seven hills” (Rome) faces destruction. Some even link Pope Francis’s papal name—derived from St. Francis of Assisi, whose father was named Pietro (Peter)—to this ominous prediction.

Though the prophecy has fascinated many, including those who speculate about the world ending around 2027, it has also been dismissed by critics. For example, Josh Canning from the Newman Centre in Toronto argued that it’s a stretch to connect Pope Francis to “Peter the Roman.”

With global uncertainty and the passing of Pope Francis, the prophecy resonates for some, but for many, it’s just another cryptic prediction not to be taken seriously. What are your thoughts on the prophecy? Would you entertain the possibility of its fulfillment, or dismiss it as mere speculation?