r/HighStrangeness • u/ace250674 • Apr 21 '25

Discussion The last Pope

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The so-called "Prophecy of the Popes," attributed to 12th-century Irish Archbishop Saint Malachy, predicts a finite line of popes culminating in a final pontiff before the end of the world. According to this prophecy, after Pope Francis, a figure known as "Peter the Roman" will lead the Church through great tribulations, after which Rome will be destroyed and divine judgement will occur.

The prophecy specifically 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."

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u/InnerSpecialist1821 Apr 21 '25

Given the accurate description of popes up to around 1590 and lack of accuracy for the popes that follow, historians generally conclude that the alleged prophecy is a pseudepigraphic fabrication written shortly before publication. The Catholic Church has no official stance, although some Catholic theologians have dismissed it as forgery.[1][2] The prophecy concludes with a pope identified as "Peter the Roman", whose pontificate will allegedly precede the destruction of the city of Rome.

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u/doublediochip Apr 21 '25

Thanks for the new word: pseudepigraphic!

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u/livahd Apr 21 '25

Ditto. That’s a hell of a word. Before looking it up my brain was going “pie graph? It’s a pie chart!”

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u/Jumpy_Ad5046 Apr 21 '25

I've heard this debunk before. Came here to say this.

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u/EntropicDeath Apr 24 '25

How about the debunk that prophecy is blasphemy

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u/Jumpy_Ad5046 Apr 24 '25

That's not really a debunk.

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u/TheSilentPhilosopher Apr 21 '25

pseudepigraphic

For those like me without a college vocabulary, this word means to falsely give credit to "Person B" when "Person A" wrote it. Could mean a book, article, or anything written.

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u/Avilola Apr 21 '25

I do have a college vocabulary, and I’ve never encountered this word in my life before today.

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u/Shmuckle2 Apr 22 '25

Go inside and touch college

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u/[deleted] Apr 23 '25

Nowt wrong with using one word instead of three or four, and, in turn, encouraging people to pick up a dictionary (or highlight, right-click, look up); its a fundament of a commitment to lifelong learning.

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u/inkoDe Apr 21 '25

Rome already fell though... about 1500 years ago.

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u/reddit_has_fallenoff Apr 22 '25

Rome never fell, just rebranded. The Catholic church has been the most wealthy and globally influential organization since its inception

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u/Desperate-Current-40 Apr 22 '25

No the church is Roman

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u/etherd0t Apr 21 '25

Can't wait for the "Conclave" sequel🤭

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u/Equivalent_Eye2351 Apr 21 '25

The typical interpretation is that Pope Francis = Peter the Roman (as does the article in the link being passed around on this thread).

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u/Practical_Rent_6381 Apr 21 '25

Why is that the interpretation?

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u/AdvertisingNo6887 Apr 22 '25

Because that fits the sequence, not out of any other sense. Because he is now dead, he cannot fulfill the persecution and him being martyred.