If you’ve spent any time on the weird side of the internet lately, you’ve probably seen the headlines. People are panicking. They’re claiming that the current occupant of the Apostolic Palace isn’t just another leader in a long line of guys in white robes, but the literal "last one." Ever.
Honestly, the question is the pope the last pope has become a bit of an obsession for conspiracy theorists and amateur theologians alike. But is there any meat on those bones? Or is it just another round of apocalyptic "doom-scrolling" fuel?
Let's be real. Predicting the end of the world is a hobby as old as time itself. But this specific claim usually points back to one very specific, very mysterious document: The Prophecy of the Popes.
The Malachy Mystery: Where the Rumors Started
The whole "last pope" thing mostly comes from a list attributed to St. Malachy, an Irish archbishop from the 12th century. Legend says he had a vision of every pope from his time until the end of the world. He supposedly wrote down 112 cryptic Latin phrases, each describing a future pontiff.
Fast forward to today. If you count the names on that list, guess who is sitting at the very end?
According to the fans of this theory, it’s the guy currently in charge. The prophecy ends with a figure called "Peter the Roman" (Petrus Romanus). The text says this Peter will "pasture his sheep in many tribulations," after which the "city of seven hills" (Rome) is destroyed and the "dreadful judge" judges his people.
Sounds like a summer blockbuster. But here is the kicker: historians are almost 100% sure the prophecy is a total fake.
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Why scholars think it's a hoax
It didn't actually appear until 1595. That is more than 400 years after Malachy died. Nobody mentioned it for centuries. No biographers. No Vatican archives. Nothing.
Suddenly, in 1590, it "shows up" during a papal election. And wouldn't you know it? The descriptions for the popes before 1590 are incredibly accurate. They mention family names and coat of arms details that are spot on. But the popes after 1590? They’re vague. Like, "really reaching to make it fit" vague.
Most experts, like the late church historian Father Paschal Robinson, believed it was a 16th-century forgery designed to help a specific cardinal get elected by making him look like the "prophesied" choice. It’s basically the Renaissance version of a deepfake.
Is the Pope the Last Pope Based on Today's Reality?
So, if we toss the Malachy prophecy in the bin, why is everyone still asking is the pope the last pope?
Well, because the world feels chaotic. We’ve seen the first papal resignation in 600 years when Benedict XVI stepped down. We’ve seen the Church navigate massive cultural shifts, scandals, and internal divisions. Some people look at the aging leadership in Rome and wonder if the institution itself can survive another century.
But "last pope" doesn't have to mean the "end of the world." For some, it’s a question of whether the papacy as we know it will change into something else entirely.
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The Changing Face of the Conclave
The Catholic Church is huge. It’s over 1.3 billion people. While the West is seeing a decline in church attendance, the "Global South"—Africa, Asia, and Latin America—is booming.
If you look at the recent appointments of cardinals, the "voters" for the next pope are coming from places like Ghana, the Philippines, and India. This shift means the next few popes will likely focus on issues very different from their predecessors.
We aren't seeing the end. We're seeing a pivot.
What Happens if a Pope Dies or Retires in 2026?
The rules for what happens next are actually pretty rigid. There’s no "well, I guess that’s it" clause in the Vatican’s handbook.
- The Sede Vacante: The moment the Chair of St. Peter is empty, the "Interregnum" begins. The Camerlengo (a high-ranking cardinal) takes temporary charge.
- The Conclave: Within 15 to 20 days, cardinals from around the world fly into Rome. They lock themselves in the Sistine Chapel.
- The Vote: They vote four times a day. If no one gets a two-thirds majority, they burn the ballots with a chemical that makes black smoke.
- The White Smoke: When they finally pick someone, the smoke turns white, and "Habemus Papam" (We have a pope) is announced from the balcony.
Unless the world actually ends, the process just keeps grinding on. There is always a successor.
The "Peter the Roman" Problem
Back to that prophecy for a second. Even if you do believe in the Malachy list, there’s a big logic hole.
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The current pope isn't named Peter. His birth name is Jorge. He chose the name Francis. Fans of the theory try to jump through hoops to connect him to "Peter" by saying he’s the head of the church founded by Peter. But honestly, that applies to literally every pope in history. It’s a bit of a stretch.
Some people even argued that "Peter the Roman" isn't the next pope, but a final figure who appears centuries from now. The prophecy doesn't actually give dates. It just lists names. For all we know, there could be 500 more names hidden between the lines.
Actionable Insights: How to Handle the "End Times" Hype
It’s easy to get sucked into the drama. Apocalyptic theories are exciting. They make us feel like we’re living in a significant moment in history. But when you’re looking at the question of is the pope the last pope, keep these things in mind:
- Check the Source: If the "prophecy" was "discovered" 400 years late, it's probably not divine.
- Look at the Data: The Church is growing in Africa and Asia. An institution with 1.3 billion members doesn't just vanish because of a Latin poem from the 1500s.
- Understand the "Why": People usually push these theories during times of political or social stress. It's a way of making sense of a messy world.
- Focus on Policy, Not Paranoia: If you're interested in the future of the papacy, watch the "Consistories" (where new cardinals are made). That tells you more about the future than any vision ever could.
The papacy has survived the fall of the Roman Empire, the Black Death, the Reformation, and two World Wars. It has a habit of sticking around. While the style of leadership changes, the office itself is one of the most stable things on the planet.
Don't bet on the "last pope" headlines just yet. History shows the white smoke will likely be rising for a long, long time.
Next Steps for the Curious:
- Research the 1590 Conclave: Look into the election of Pope Gregory XIV to see how the "prophecy" was likely used as a political tool.
- Monitor the College of Cardinals: Track the geographical diversity of the current voting cardinals to see where the next leader might come from.
- Read the official "Universi Dominici Gregis": This is the actual Vatican document that explains exactly how the next pope is chosen, regardless of what any prophecy says.