Three favoured candidates

A centuries-old prophecy, known as the Prophecy of the Popes, has resurfaced following the death of Pope Francis, as a conclave prepares to choose his successor. Allegedly written in the 12th century by Saint Malachy and discovered in the 16th century, the prophecy lists 112 popes and ominously predicts doom following the final pope, referred to as “Peter the Roman.” The prophecy claims he will lead during tribulations, ending with the destruction of Rome and divine judgment. Now, with several candidates named Peter—like Pietro Parolin, Peter Turkson, and Péter Erdő—in the running, speculation has reignited.

However, historians and scholars largely discredit the prophecy, calling it a hoax. They argue that its accuracy sharply declines after the time it was “discovered” and suspect the monk who found it may have fabricated it to boost a friend’s papal bid—which failed. Additionally, the prophecy already skipped Pope Francis, who wasn’t named Peter, wasn’t from Rome, and should have been the final pope according to the list. Critics highlight that the vague language and retroactive interpretations make it unreliable, despite current efforts to link it to potential successors with the name Peter.