The most well-known prophecy about the last Catholic pope is the Prophecy of the Popes, attributed to Saint Malachy, a 12th-century Irish archbishop. This prophecy, first published in 1595 by Benedictine monk Arnold Wion, consists of 112 short, cryptic Latin phrases that purportedly describe each pope from Celestine II (elected in 1143) to a final pope called "Petrus Romanus" (Peter the Roman). According to the prophecy, Peter the Roman will be the last pope, reigning during a time of great tribulation, after which the "seven-hilled city" (Rome) will be destroyed, and the "dreadful Judge" will judge the people, signaling the end of the world.
Key Points About the Prophecy:
Final Prophecy: The last entry in the prophecy states:
"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 will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End."
