A mystic from Ireland<\/p>\n
Some conspiracy theorists are worried about the Church\u2019s future, while the majority of Catholics are celebrating the election of the new pope.<\/p>\n
Why? Because Pope Leo XIV may be the last pope, according to an old prophecy that is resurfacing.<\/p>\n
According to USA Today, Saint Malachy, an Irish mystic from the 12th century, is credited with uttering this doomsday prophecy, also referred to as the Prophecy of the Popes.<\/p>\n
The prophecy stated that there would be 112 popes after Malachy\u2019s lifetime, with \u201cPeter the Roman\u201d being the final one. Some conspiracy theorists are trying to connect this figure to Pope Leo XIV, but experts bring up a number of problems with this theory, pointing out that the prediction is flawed in many ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeter the Roman\u201d is who?<\/p>\n
First of all, Pope Leo XIV\u2019s name and background don\u2019t exactly fit with \u201cPeter the Roman.\u201d Not Italian, but Peruvian and American, Pope Leo XIV was once Robert Francis Prevost. Thus, the theory already appears to be incorrect.<\/p>\n
Additionally, some have tried to connect the late Pope Francis to the enigmatic character \u201cPeter the Roman\u201d from St. Malachy\u2019s prophecy, but that theory hasn\u2019t worked.<\/p>\n
Josh Canning, the director of the Newman Centre\u2019s Chaplaincy in Toronto, rejected the notion as early as 2013, stating, \u201cI don\u2019t know how you can connect Peter the Roman with Pope Francis.\u201d<\/p>\n
The prophecy has also been swiftly rejected by other experts. The Prophecy of the Popes is a \u201cforgery,\u201d according to Boston College professor and Episcopal priest Fr. James Weiss. \u201cThe prophecies are a forgery,\u201d he clarified. I don\u2019t think they have any credibility.<\/p>\n
Very true<\/p>\n
Fr. Weiss also objects to the reference to a \u201cdreadful judge\u201d and the phrase \u201ccity of seven hills,\u201d which most people believe to be a reference to Rome. He thinks this might allude to something far less catastrophic, perhaps a national leader\u2019s judgment as opposed to a worldwide calamity.<\/p>\n
Fr. James Weiss claims that the list ascribed to St. Malachy includes 112 mysterious phrases, each purportedly associated with a future pope, beginning with Celestine II, who assumed the papacy in 1143. Weiss clarified, \u201cThe popes are not specifically named,\u201d adding that the mottos contain cryptic terms like \u201cswift bear\u201d and \u201crose of Umbria.\u201d<\/p>\n
Weiss went on to say that the phrases closely resemble the real popes from Malachy\u2019s time until the late 1500s, when many academics think the list was actually written. But accuracy starts to fluctuate after that time. He remarked, \u201cIt\u2019s hit or miss,\u201d with some phrases barely resembling actual pontiffs and others being far more difficult to relate to.<\/p>\n
Returning to the limelight<\/p>\n
After Pope Francis passed away on April 21 at the age of 88, St. Malachy\u2019s old prophecy gained renewed attention. Francis was thought by many to be the 112th pope on Malachy\u2019s list, which means that no pope has been predicted for almost a thousand years.<\/p>\n
The prophecy\u2019s timing is one of the biggest red flags for many historians.<\/p>\n
According to Jo\u00eblle Rollo-Koster, a professor of medieval history at the University of Rhode Island, there isn\u2019t any conclusive proof that Malachy was involved in any prophetic writings. \u201cAs a historian who is meticulous about the evidence, that is the best evidence in my opinion that Malachy did not write or speak prophecies,\u201d she stated.<\/p>\n
Therefore, it appears that there is little to no connection between Pope Leo XIV and the Prophecy of the Popes, despite the fact that it may have captured the interest of some.<\/p>\n
This new pope is definitely someone to keep an eye on, despite the conspiracy theories, but don\u2019t expect the Prophecy of the Popes to play a significant role in deciding his future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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