Despite expert claims labeling it a ‘forgery,’ a doomsday prophecy identifying Pope Francis as the last leader of the Catholic Church has resurfaced online. Pope Francis died at the age of 88 at Domus Sanctae Marthae in Vatican City, as reported by Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell on Easter Monday morning (April 21).
He was the first Latin American pope, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and led the Catholic Church and served as the sovereign of Vatican City State from March 13, 2013, until his death in 2025.
On Sunday, May 4, the Vatican marked its final day of mourning for Pope Francis, with the papal conclave set to commence on Wednesday to elect the next pope. However, according to a supposed prophecy discovered and published by Benedictine Arnold de Wyon, Francis is foretold to be the last pope, with no 113th to follow.
This phenomenon is known as The Prophecy of the Popes, a Latin tradition that begins with Celestine II, elected pope in 1143, and comprises 112 brief, cryptic statements believed to predict the papacy.
The 12th-century Irish Saint Malachy, a former Archbishop of Armagh, is credited with authoring The Prophecy of the Popes, which was published in 1595. The extensive list, commencing in the 1100s and concluding after 112 popes, is thought to accurately represent the appointed leaders of the church up until approximately 1590.
Some conspiracy theorists have interpreted the list in the context of Pope Francis’ death, speculating that no pope will be selected at the upcoming conclave.
