Video Summary
St. Malachy is said to have recorded 112 short Latin mottos predicting every pope and an apocalyptic final entry.
The manuscript resurfaced around 1590 and was published in 1595; early mottos closely matched historical popes.
Scholars argue the prophecy may be a 16th-century forgery, possibly tied to election politics and Cardinal Simoncelli.
The episode highlights a contested reading of the Latin that interprets the sequence as a countdown ending in the year 2027.
Despite dramatic interpretations, the Vatican has neither officially endorsed nor rejected the prophecy.
The prophecy is a list attributed to St. Malachy of 112 short Latin phrases—each said to symbolize a future pope—ending with a final entry about 'Peter the Roman' and an apocalyptic destruction of Rome.
According to the episode, the manuscript was kept in the Vatican archives, resurfaced around 1590 after being hidden about 450 years, and was published in 1595 by Arnold Wion; historian Alfonso Chacón later matched many mottos to past popes.
The episode presents an interpretation of the original Latin as containing a secondary countdown that some read as pointing to the year 2027, reinforced by references to a notable eclipse that year—but it frames this as contested and interpretive.
Yes. The video highlights scholarly arguments that the list was likely created in the late 16th century—possibly as election propaganda linked to Cardinal Girolamo Simoncelli—and that later editors and interpreters shaped the mottos to fit events.
The episode dramatizes Francis’ death and a subsequent new pope but notes Rome remained intact, suggesting the prophecy didn’t play out as a literal immediate apocalypse and that believers reinterpret the sequence (e.g., as a year-based countdown).
The episode points out the Vatican’s long-standing silence—neither validating nor condemning the prophecy—likely reflecting institutional caution about apocalyptic texts and their impact on the faithful.
“On April 21st, 2025, Pope Francis died. According to one of the most famous prophecies in church history, Francis was the final Pope.”
The video begins with a focus on the prophecy of Saint Malachy, which claims that Pope Francis is the last pope before a cataclysmic end.
The narrative suggests that after his reign, significant calamities, including the burning of Rome and the onset of Judgment Day, are foretold.
Just 17 days after Francis's death, Robert Privot was named Leo XIV, the first American pope, challenging the original prophecy.
“Buried inside the original Latin, there is a countdown. The list doesn't end with a Pope; it ends during a year. That year is 2027.”
The prophecy is presented not just as a fulfillment of papal succession, but as a countdown to a pivotal year—2027.
This suggests that even though the immediate predictions did not come to pass, there might still be significant implications related to the prophecy's concluding timeline.
“He gave the manuscript to Pope Innocent II as a comfort.”
The story transitions to 1139, where Malachy, while praying near St. Peter's tomb, has a vision regarding the future of the papacy.
Malachy envisions successive popes symbolized by images and phrases, documenting a complete list of 112 popes, culminating with a vision indicating apocalyptic events.
This compiled list was intended as reassurance for the pope, affirming the continuation of Peter's lineage until the end of times, although it was ultimately seen as a dangerous prediction.
“In 1590, somebody found it. Hidden for 450 years, 74 popes came and went during that time.”
There was a significant plot twist when the manuscript detailing Malachy’s prophecies was discovered in 1590, after being hidden for centuries.
The rediscovery of this work reaffirmed Malachy's accuracy in predicting the characteristics of 74 popes, stirring concerns within the church about its implications, particularly regarding its final warning about the apocalypse.
“The list was terrifying enough, but what really upset the church was how the list ended.”
Following the discovery of the manuscript, the church's leadership was deeply unsettled by the authenticity of the prophecy, especially with its grim conclusion.
The existence of a prophecy that seemingly validated ongoing fears regarding the papacy during a tumultuous period in European history served both as a comfort and a source of anxiety for the church.
The situation significantly impacted the theological and political dynamics within the church during a time of great reformative upheaval.
"Malachy challenged the Shena family's control over the Archbishop of Armagh position and survived."
In the 12th century, the Shena family dominated the office of Archbishop of Armagh, the highest Catholic seat in Ireland, treating it like a hereditary monarchy.
This office could be inherited without any qualifications, making it a position of power that was virtually impossible to lose. Malachy took a stand against this arrangement, successfully ousting the family from control.
Rather than becoming consumed by the power struggle, Malachy returned to his true mission: rebuilding monasteries and reforming the clergy, aiming to strengthen the connection between the Irish church and Rome.
"Malachy predicted his own death, stating he would die at Clairvaux on All Souls' Day."
After forming a significant friendship with Bernard, the influential abbot of Clairvaux Abbey, Malachy predicted he would die at this location and on a specific date, All Souls' Day.
In 1148, as he headed back to Rome, Malachy succumbed to a severe fever and died in Clairvaux exactly as he had foreseen, at the age of 54.
His accurate predictions led to a belief in his prophetic abilities, culminating in his canonization, making him the first Irish saint recognized by a Pope.
"The church began to follow the prophecy after its predictions, especially during times of significant upheaval."
Following Malachy's death, skepticism surrounded his prophecies, yet many events aligned closely with his predictions, leading some within the church to take them seriously, particularly from 1595 onwards.
For example, two popes were described as a "rapacious eagle," which came to symbolize Napoleon Bonaparte's actions against the papacy, exemplifying the accurate foresight of Malachy's mottos.
As history unfolded, subsequent popes faced dire circumstances which were eerily foreshadowed by Malachy, leading the church to regard his prophecies more closely and incorporate them into their traditions.
"Only two mottos remained before the last entry of Peter the Roman."
By the end of the 20th century, Malachy's list of popes had only two entries left prior to the cryptic final name, Peter the Roman.
The next motto, "De labore solis," or "the labor of the sun," marked the birth of Karol Wojtyła, who later became Pope John Paul II, further aligning with Malachy's foresight about future popes.
Furthermore, John Paul II's death was marked by an eclipse, fulfilling Malachy's prediction of significant solar-related events in connection with popes' trajectories.
"After the election of Benedict, the final prophecy read: Peter the Roman."
Joseph Ratzinger chose the name Benedict upon his election as pope in 2005, which corresponded with Malachy's last prophecy of "the glory of the olive."
With the Olivetans, a Benedictine order, having an olive branch as their symbol, this further consolidated the credibility of Malachy’s list.
However, the surprising resignation of Benedict XVI in 2013 opened the door for the unresolved prophecy of Peter the Roman, leaving the future shrouded in mystery.
"Francis took his name from St. Francis of Assisi, and the father of St. Francis was called Pietro, Peter."
The resignation of Pope Benedict on February 28th coincided with the feast day of St. Romanus, leading to the anticipation of a new pope among the cardinals convening in conclave.
While many expected Cardinal Peter Turkson to be elected, the cardinals chose Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis, marking him as the first Jesuit and the first pope from the Americas.
The intriguing connection to the prophecy of Saint Malachy arises as the name Francis has ties to Peter, emphasizing the idea that Peter the Roman may still play a role in the prophecy’s fulfillment.
"In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit Peter the Roman, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations."
The prophecy forewarns of significant events during the reign of Peter the Roman, indicating a period of intense persecution for the Holy Roman Church.
It suggests that following the reign of this final pope, Rome will experience destruction, leading to a time of divine judgment.
"In 400 years, the Vatican has never condemned the Prophecy of the Popes, never endorsed it, never denounced it, never ruled on it at all."
Despite the troubling implications of Malachy’s prophecy regarding the church's destruction, the Vatican has maintained silence about it for over four centuries.
This is in stark contrast with the Vatican's response to other works such as "The Da Vinci Code," which was openly criticized.
"A future pope fleeing Rome, climbing over the dead bodies of his own priests to escape the Vatican."
Various prophetic visions throughout history have echoed Malachy's ominous outlook, including that of Pope Pius X and the Virgin Mary's messages at Fatima, both predicting a grim future for the papacy and the city of Rome.
These visions portray a scenario of a pope in deep peril amidst destruction, reinforcing the narrative found in Malachy's prophecy.
"They say that when the wall runs out of room for portraits, the world ends."
In St. Paul’s Basilica, a countdown of popes is visually represented, suggesting that the end of the world will occur when there is no longer space for new portraits.
As of 2025, there are fears that the current pope's time is running out, raising questions about how the prophecy might unfold under Pope Francis' leadership.
"In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit. Then comes a period. Peter the Roman begins on the next line."
A significant misprint in the original prophecy document alters its interpretation, leading to a misunderstanding of how many Popes might serve before the arrival of Peter the Roman.
The distinction of phrases suggests the possibility of numerous popes sitting during tribulations prior to the arrival of Peter the Roman, allowing more room for future popes in the series.
"Maybe Peter the Roman isn't coming. Maybe he's already on the throne."
The discussion raises the idea that Pope Francis, with his Italian heritage and papal decisions, may have already fulfilled the role of Peter the Roman.
Future interpretations of Malachy’s prophecy could hinge not only on historical events but also on the misunderstood structure of the prophecy that could still accommodate the presence of multiple future popes.
"Even the sky has plans for 2027, with a long eclipse that runs straight across the old Roman world."
The video discusses how Francis chose Santa Maria Maggiore for his grave instead of the traditional Vatican crypt, linking this decision to the countdown of Saint Malachy's prophecy.
The upcoming eclipse in 2027 is characterized as the "eclipse of the century," lasting for six minutes and covering regions such as Spain and North Africa, creating a symbolic connection to historic prophecy themes.
The notion that the prophecy was never about a specific pope but instead about the timeline, particularly the year leading to the apocalypse, is emphasized.
"The Prophecy of the Popes is one of the all-time greatest stories. But is it true?"
The narrative asserts that the earliest version of Malachy's prophecy actually appeared in 1871, not in the 12th century as often believed.
It points out that Bernard of Clairvaux wrote a biography of Malachy but did not mention any prophecies regarding popes, with a significant silence concerning the prophecy maintained for another 400 years.
The text notes that Wion published the list in 1595 without claiming it originated from the Vatican archive, leading to skepticism regarding its authenticity.
"The 2027 number is easily debunked."
The prophecy's structure is critiqued for having vague descriptions that became even more ambiguous over time, leading to inaccuracies in predictions.
Specific examples include errors in understanding the history of popes that passed into the prophecy, such as misidentifying John the 22nd's lineage.
The notion that the prophecy remains relevant is challenged; for instance, if Sixtus is considered the central figure, the remaining popes suggest that a long span of time extends beyond the expected conclusion in 2027.
"Why are we so fascinated with the end of the world?"
The discussion delves into humanity's intrinsic fear of mortality and desire for narrative in death, suggesting that people prefer to exit life in dramatic circumstances rather than mundane ones.
Different cultural interpretations of cataclysmic events are explored, with examples such as nuclear Armageddon and climate disaster framing contemporary fears.
Ultimately, it contemplates that although the specifics of our demise are uncertain, what remains essential is how we articulate our lives and interactions within that framework of existential dread.
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"My throat is sore from all the takes trying to pronounce Latin."
The host acknowledges the challenges faced during the recording process, particularly emphasizing the difficulty of pronouncing Latin terms.
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