The 900-Year Prophecy of St. Malachy and the Vatican’s Silence
In the quiet vaults of the Vatican, there are documents few have ever seen. Among them, one has captured the curiosity of believers and skeptics alike: the 900-year-old prophecy attributed to St. Malachy. This list of 112 cryptic phrases appears to describe every pope from the 12th century onward — and for many, the accuracy is too precise to ignore.
The prophecy remained largely unknown until it was published in 1595, centuries after St. Malachy’s death. Since then, each new pope has been compared to the phrases, and remarkably, many of them fit in ways historians can’t fully explain.
For example, Pope John Paul II was associated with the phrase “From the labor of the sun,” and he was born during a solar eclipse. Pope Benedict XVI’s phrase, “Glory of the olive,” aligned with his choice of the name Benedict — a monastic order linked to peace and the olive branch.
But it’s the final lines of the prophecy that have reignited global attention.
The last entry mentions a figure known only as Peter the Roman, who will “feed his flock in many tribulations” before the destruction of the “seven-hilled city.” The prophecy ends abruptly, stating that a dreadful judge will judge the people.
No other names are listed.
Some say this suggests Pope Francis — the 112th name — is either the final pope or the one immediately preceding Peter the Roman, a figure possibly symbolic or yet to appear. Others believe the prophecy is fulfilled already, and the Church has entered its final prophetic season.
The Vatican has never officially endorsed or rejected the prophecy. Still, the timing of current world events, internal division within the Church, and the rise of anti-Christian sentiment worldwide have drawn many to re-examine the text with urgency.
Whether legend or divine revelation, the prophecy of St. Malachy has stirred new interest in the spiritual state of the Church and what may lie ahead.
Before you go, explore resources to help you dig deeper.
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Let God lead you deeper.
