What Is The St. Malachy Prophecy, And Why Are People Talking About It?

The recent death of Pope Francis on April 21 has reignited interest in the centuries-old “Prophecy of the Popes,”

It also known as the St. Malachy prophecy, which some say indicates that Pope Francis was the last pope the Church will ever have. The over-900-year-old prophecy, according to the Catholic Encyclopedia, purports to describe every single pope from the year 1143 until the end of time — and Pope Francis appears, at least at a glance, to be the last pope described in the prophecy, suggesting the world will end now that his papacy has concluded.

A closer look shows that there is some significant evidence against the authenticity of this alleged prophecy. Here’s what you need to know.

What is the ‘Prophecy of the Popes’?