Irish Saint Malachy, the 12th-century bishop of Armagh, prophesied that there would be only one more pope after Benedict. In a series of 112 cryptic Latin phrases, the Irish saint predicts there would be only one more pope after Benedict, and during his reign the end of the world will come.
Saint Malachy's final prediction in full is:
"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 [Rome] will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End.”
This prophecy, allegedly written in 1139 and first published in 1595 by Benedictine monk Arnold Wion, claims to outline the succession of 112 popes from Pope Celestine II (1143) onward, with Petrus Romanus emerging as a final figure after the 112th pope. When scholars examined the prophecies after their publication, they found the predictions for popes between 1139 and 1590 to be remarkably accurate, leading some to suspect the author had backdated these predictions. However, the prophecies for popes after 1590 have been notably less precise. Significantly, Pope Francis is the 112th pope on Malachy's list, after whom the prophecy suggests Petrus Romanus will emerge as the Catholic Church faces its greatest tribulation before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Could these unfolding events surrounding Pope Francis signify the fulfillment of this prophecy? How do these developments align with biblical eschatology, and what does it mean for believers today?
According to the prophecy, the final pope would be the 112th, after whom "Peter the Roman" would emerge to lead the church through the tribulation period. Pope Francis is indeed the 112th pope on Malachy's list, signifying that after him, Petrus Romanus is said to lead during the tribulation, the period of the Antichrist's reign. Could the Antichrist be ready for the rise? Is Donald Trump the Antichrist? If, yes, is the Church also ready from Rapture?
Many people initially confused Pope Francis with Petrus Romanus due to his position as the 112th pope on Malachy's list. However, Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is not Roman by birth or heritage. While his birth name is not Peter, some draw connections because his father's name was Peter. Others drew connections regardless of his given name, citing the Catholic Church's false claim that the Apostle Peter was their first pope. As such, some interpreted Malachy's prophecy to suggest that Pope Francis, the 112th Pope, would represent a final "Peter-like" figure. This interpretation gained further support through Francis's papacy, which has featured unprecedented interfaith dialogues, calls for global unity, and progressive theological shifts raising concerns among traditionalists that he is preparing the way for a one-world religion, an idea closely tied to the false prophet of Revelation 13:11-18.
Signs of the Times
Recent reports indicate that high-ranking Vatican officials have secretly discussed the removal of a “heretical pope.”. If these claims are true, why is there such urgency now? Could it be that Pope Francis’s policies and globalist inclinations are seen as a deviation from traditional Catholic doctrine, or is there a more profound spiritual battle taking place?
Simultaneously, Israel is facing increased turmoil, with discussions about the rebuilding of the Third Temple intensifying. The presence of the “red heifer” in Israel, a crucial requirement for Temple purification, has heightened speculation among prophecy watchers. The Bible warns that the Antichrist will one day declare himself as God within the Temple [2 Thessalonians 2:3-4]. If preparations for the Third Temple continue in Israel while the Vatican undergoes internal conflict, could these events be converging toward prophetic fulfillment?
The Role of Pope Francis and Potential Successor
One of the most controversial claims among prophecy analysts is that Pope Francis could be the “false prophet” described in Revelation, who will promote the Antichrist's agenda. Francis's consistent advocacy for religious unity, environmental sustainability under global governance, and economic redistribution mirrors key aspects of the prophesied Beast's system.
Furthermore, his decision to open the “Five Doors”, a series of symbolic spiritual actions, has coincided with increasing global unrest. Could these acts have an unseen spiritual significance? Has Francis been deliberately preparing the way for a successor named Peter? Jesus warned that deception would be rampant in the last days [Matthew 24:24].
Particularly intriguing is the display of papal portraits in Rome's Basilica of St. Paul, where a hall contains mosaic portraits of every pope, with just one empty plate remaining after Pope Francis's portrait. Many view this as significant in connection with St. Malachy's prophecy, which indicates Pope Francis will be the last pope before "Peter the Roman" takes the church through Tribulation and judgment. Could the Catholic Church be quietly acknowledging Malachy's prophecy?
Notably, among the front runners to potentially succeed him are Cardinal Peter Turkson from Ghana, Cardinale Pierbattista Pizzaballa from Italy, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle from the Philippines, Cardinal Pietro Parolin from Italy and Cardinal Peter Erdő from Hungary, five of nine candidates, over 50%, bearing variations of the name Peter, potentially increasing the chance of having Peter succeed Francis, fulfilling the prophecy of Petrus Romanus.
As cardinals prepare to elect a new pope to succeed Francis, there is no doubt that the Prophecy of Saint Malachy will linger in the back of their minds.
J. Michael Dennis, LL.L., LL.M.
About the Author
J. Michael Dennis, LL.L., LL.M.
J. Michael Dennis, is a graduate of the University of Ottawa, where he specialized in Commercial and Business Law. His focus areas included Institutional Regulatory Compliance, Corporate and Public Officers' Liability, Collective Agreement Negotiations, and the Impact of Corporate Fiscal Legislation on Business Decision-Making.
Following the Bhopal disaster of December 2-3, 1984, involving Union Carbide, and after a decade serving as the National Canadian SCMS Coordinator for Union Carbide Corporation, Ouellette transitioned to specialize in Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. His consulting expertise spans Personal and Organizational Planning, Change and Knowledge Management, Operational Issues, Conflict Resolution, Regulatory Compliance, Strategic Planning, and Crisis and Reputation Management.
Today, J. Michael Dennis focuses on emerging trends and developments that are shaping how we live and conduct business. As an expert in Regulatory Compliance, Strategic Planning, and Crisis Management, he provides valuable insights to business owners, corporate officers, managers, and the public. His analysis covers a broad spectrum of future trends, technological advancements, lifestyle changes, and global issues that will impact the way we live and do business in the years ahead.