After Pope Francis passed away, a conclave was set to choose the next pope. But here’s where it gets weird…
With Pope Francis gone, they’re getting ready to pick the next pope
What’s stopping them is this really old prophecy floating around that’s supposed to list 112 popes, starting way back in 1143 and somehow going all the way up to now. And, apparently, it ends with something super dark.
“That’s really the point of prophecy, isn’t it?”
When you think about it, prophecies aren’t usually good news. There’s this prophecy saying things are about to get really bad — and supposedly, it’s all going to be because of some guy named Peter.
A monk claimed he found the prophecy within the 16th century books
This whole thing was “discovered” way back in the late 1500s by a monk called Arnold Wion. He said it was originally written by Saint Malachy, an Irish saint from the 1100s.
It includes 112 predictions about popes
The prophecy basically has 112 short, cryptic lines. Each one’s supposed to hint at who the next pope would be. And now… we’re on the very last one.
The last prediction declares that Rome will fall
The final line actually says: “Peter the Roman, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations, and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The End.”
Ironically, the three leading candidates are named Peter
Bad news… Turns out, some of the current frontrunners for the job actually are named Peter. According to The Guardian, there’s Pietro Parolin from Italy, Peter Turkson from Ghana, and Péter Erdő from Hungary. Italy’s Pierbattista Pizzaballa might also count?
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BUT… none of them are actually from Rome
Could the prophecy be wrong? Well, none of the candidates are from Rome, so the prophecy’s criteria isn’t fulfilled. Even if one of the Peters gets picked, we’re not exactly checking the “Peter the Roman” box.
Some experts say the prophecy is probably fake
A bunch of historians and experts have already said this prophecy’s probably a hoax.
Others think the monk made it up for political reasons
There’s this theory that Wion, the monk who “found” it, might’ve actually made the whole thing up to give his friend a little boost in the pope race back then.
Also, the math’s kinda off
According to the list, Pope Benedict XVI was #111. So if that’s true, then Pope Francis would’ve been the last one. But… Francis wasn’t called Peter, didn’t choose Peter as his name, and was from Argentina.
