For the first time in the history of the Catholic Church, an American, Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, has ascended to the papacy.
At 69 years old, his election on May 8 has brought new energy to the faithful, though it also stirs up old prophecies that have many asking: Could he be the last pope?
Many Catholics are celebrating Pope Leo XIV’s leadership, yet whispers about an ancient prophecy loom in the backdrop. Some conspiracy theorists have zeroed in on a prophecy from the 12th century, believed to be foretold by Saint Malachy, which posits that there would be 112 papal reigns following his time. The last pope would be known as “Peter the Roman.”
Pope Leo XIV doesn’t fit this description on several fronts. His real name is Robert Francis Prevost, and he has roots in Peru and America—not Italy, a key detail necessary to align with the prediction. This discrepancy already casts doubt on any direct relation to the old foretelling.
Previously, attempts were also made to link this prophetic title, “Peter the Roman,” to Pope Francis. However, such theories were refuted by experts, like Josh Canning from Toronto’s Newman Centre Chaplaincy, who was unable to find a credible connection.
Indeed, many scholars dismiss the validity of Malachy’s prophecy. Boston College’s Fr. James Weiss, both a lecturer and an Episcopal priest, calls it a fabrication. He sees no solid basis for its validity, noting the presence of cryptic symbols rather than concrete predictions.
Fr. Weiss questions interpretations involving ominous phrases like “dreadful judge” and “city of seven hills,” traditionally seen as references to Rome. He suggests these could signify something less catastrophic, perhaps the judgment faced by a leader rather than a forecast of global ruin.
The prophecy lists a series of brief Latin phrases linked to each future pope starting with Celestine II in 1143. These mottos hold words like “swift bear” and “rose of Umbria,” which aren’t easily matched to real individuals according to Weiss.
Weiss points out that the prophecy matches papal history only until the late 1500s, believed to be when the list was actually created. Beyond this point, the associations become increasingly tenuous.
With Pope Francis’s passing on April 21 at 88, discussions around St. Malachy’s foretelling have resurfaced. He was thought by many to be the 112th pope filling the final prophecy slot—a fact causing a stir given there hasn’t been a new prophecy for nearly a millennium.
Joëlle Rollo-Koster, a medieval history expert from the University of Rhode Island, finds no substantial evidence tying Malachy to any prophetic writings. Her careful examination of history supports the view that Malachy likely wasn’t responsible for these predictions.
Consequently, it seems there’s scant link between Pope Leo XIV and this prophecy, despite its appeal to conspiracy enthusiasts. While the new pope merits observation in his fresh role, the Prophecy of the Popes should not be seen as a decisive factor regarding his papacy’s future.
