The death of Pope Francis at age has reignited centuries-old prophecies about the future of the Catholic Church, with speculation swirling around the so-called “Black Pope” and apocalyptic predictions for the years ahead.
Interest has surged in the 900-year-old “Prophecy of the Popes,” attributed to St. Malachy, which lists cryptic mottos for each pontiff. According to this prophecy, Pope Francis is the final pope before “Judgement Day,” expected by some interpreters to arrive as soon as. The final entry describes a leader called “Peter the Roman,” who will shepherd the Church through tribulations before the destruction of the “seven-hilled city”—a phrase many link to Rome.
Adding to the intrigue, Nostradamus’s writings from the 16th century have resurfaced, with passages predicting the death of a “very old pontiff” and the election of a successor who “weakens his seat.” Some interpreters connect this to Pope Francis’s passing and speculate on a new leader from the Global South or a Jesuit—nicknamed the “Black Pope” for the order’s traditional black attire.
While mainstream scholars caution that these prophecies are vague and open to wide interpretation, their resurgence reflects global anxieties and the uncertain path ahead for one of the world’s oldest institutions. As the Vatican prepares for its next conclave, questions remain: Will the next pope fulfill these ancient predictions—or will history, once again, prove prophecy wrong?
