{"id":58325,"date":"2025-05-10T07:58:18","date_gmt":"2025-05-10T07:58:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/?p=58325"},"modified":"2025-05-11T23:58:44","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T23:58:44","slug":"is-pope-leo-xiv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pulsperry.com\/?p=58325","title":{"rendered":"One thou."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The entire Catholic world is buzzing after the election of Pope Leo XIV.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 69-year-old former Cardinal Robert Prevost was confirmed as the new head of the Catholic Church on May 8 \u2013 marking a historic moment as Pope Leo XIV becomes the first American to hold the position.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Irish mystic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While most Catholics are celebrating the election of the new pope, some conspiracy theorists are feeling uneasy about the future of the Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why? Because an ancient prophecy is making the rounds again, suggesting that Pope Leo XIV <\/a>could be the final pope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This doomsday prophecy, known as the Prophecy of the Popes<\/em>, is attributed to Saint Malachy, an Irish mystic who lived in the 12th century, according to USA Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the prophecy, there would be 112 popes after Malachy\u2019s time, with the last one being referred to as \u201dPeter the Roman.\u201d Some conspiracy theorists are attempting to link this figure to Pope Leo XIV, but experts point out several issues with this theory, highlighting numerous flaws in the prediction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is \u201dPeter the Roman\u201d?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For one, \u201dPeter the Roman\u201d doesn\u2019t exactly line up with Pope Leo XIV\u2019s name or background. Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Francis Prevost, holds both American and Peruvian citizenship, not Italian. So, the theory already seems off-base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some have also attempted to link the mysterious figure \u201dPeter the Roman\u201d from St. Malachy\u2019s prophecy to the late Pope Francis, but that theory hasn\u2019t held up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As far back as 2013, Josh Canning, director of Toronto\u2019s Chaplaincy at the Newman Centre, dismissed the idea, saying, \u201cI don\u2019t know how you can connect Peter the Roman with Pope Francis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other experts have also been quick to dismiss the prophecy. Fr. James Weiss, an Episcopal priest and professor at Boston College, called the Prophecy of the Popes<\/em> a \u201dforgery.\u201d He explained<\/a>, \u201cThe prophecies are a forgery. I don\u2019t believe there\u2019s any credibility to them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quite accurate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fr. Weiss also takes issue with the phrase \u201dcity of seven hills\u201d (which most people assume refers to Rome) and the mention of a \u201ddreadful judge.\u201d He believes this could refer to something much less apocalyptic \u2014 possibly a judgment by a national leader rather than a global catastrophe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Fr. James Weiss, the list attributed to St. Malachy contains 112 cryptic phrases, each supposedly linked to a future pope, starting with Celestine II, who took office in 1143. \u201cThe popes are not specifically named,\u201d Weiss explained, noting that the mottos include cryptic descriptors like \u201cswift bear\u201d and \u201crose of Umbria.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Pope Leo XIV leads the Pro Ecclesia Mass in the Sistine Chapel, on May 09, 2025 in Vatican City \/ Vatican Media\/Vatican Pool \u2013 Corbis\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Weiss added that from Malachy\u2019s era up until the late 1500s \u2014 when many scholars believe the list was actually composed \u2014 the phrases align closely with the actual popes. But after that period, accuracy becomes inconsistent. \u201cIt\u2019s hit or miss,\u201d he said, with some phrases loosely matching real pontiffs and others being much harder to connect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thrown back into the spotlight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

St. Malachy\u2019s ancient prophecy was thrown back into the spotlight following the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at age 88. Many believed Francis may have been the 112th pope on Malachy\u2019s list \u2014 meaning, for the first time in nearly a millennium, no future pope has been predicted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many historians, one of the biggest red flags is the timing of the prophecy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jo\u00eblle Rollo-Koster, a medieval history professor at the University of Rhode Island, notes that there\u2019s no solid evidence linking Malachy to any prophetic writings. \u201dAs a historian, I am hardcore on the evidence, and that, for me, is the ultimate proof that Malachy did not utter prophecies or write prophecies,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, while the Prophecy of the Popes<\/em> may have caught the imagination of some, it seems pretty clear that there\u2019s little to no connection between it and Pope Leo XIV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the conspiracy theories, this new pope is certainly one to watch, but don\u2019t expect the Prophecy of the Popes<\/em> to have much weight in determining his future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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