Given all the fall-out regarding the death of Pope Francis – and there has been a lot written – perhaps it’s understandable that a supposed prophecy, claimed to be almost 1,000 years old, has flown under the radar.

We know, right… predictions and premonitions… cue the yawning. And yet this particular prophecy has garnered enough interest on the internet to warrant discussion by online users. This in spite of it apparently first being recorded nigh-on a millennium ago.

Stick with us if you’ve half an interest in the occult, strange, or spooky, or indeed if you simply like exciting doomsday prophecies that have little-to-no chance of ever actually coming to fruition.

Unless you’ve been void of access to any form of technology over the past few days, you’ll be aware that Pope Francis passed away earlier this week on Monday, April 21.

The Vatican announced word of the 88-year-old’s demise, while his cause of death was later revealed to be a cerebral stroke leading to a coma and heart failure.

A nine-day period of mourning has now come into effect, while plans for Pope Francis’ burial are well underway. Yet those tasks pale in comparison to the job of choosing his next successor.

And while this is often a lengthy process, not to mention weighted with unimaginable importance and meaning, the decision regarding who will be the next pope could be even more significant… if you’re inclined to believe the aforementioned 1,000-year-old prophecy.

According to reports, there exists a book known as the Prophecy of the Popes, supposedly written in the 1100s by an Archbishop of Armagh, Ireland, named Malach, later canonized to become Saint Malachy.

His prophecy is said to list 112 popes, essentially predicting that there would only be one more pope after Benedict (the Pope who abdicated and was replaced by Pope Francis).

Perhaps more alarmingly, Saint Malachy is said to have predicted that reign could result in the end of the world, meaning Pope Francis would be the last ever person to hold that role.

The final entry says the last pope will be: “Peter the Roman, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations, and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The End.”

Pope Francis chose his name in honor of St Francis of Assisi, who’s father was named Pietro, or Peter in English. A tenuous link, maybe, yet one that people use to attempt to confirm the prophecy.

What’s more, some interpretations of the Prophecy of the Popes believe it tips the world to end in 2027… which means there’s not that much time left before things really start to go south.

Given the current state of turmoil on the world stage, perhaps the prophecy cuts a little too close to the bone. Despite this, we feel it’s only right to outline that there are plenty of critics who rubbish Saint Malachy’s gloomy predictions.

Josh Canning, director of Toronto’s Chaplaincy at the Newman Centre, said in 2013 (via Global News): “I don’t know how you can connect Peter the Roman with Pope Francis.”

What do you make of the prophecy? Let us know in the comments.