The network goes crazy after a mysterious medieval "prophecy": Francis the last before the Apocalypse and the second coming of Christ

The internet is abuzz with talk of a mysterious medieval prophecy about Popes, according to which Pope Francis is said to be the last before the apocalypse and the Second Coming of Christ.

The reference belongs to the book The Prophecy of the Popes (Prophetia Sancti Malachiae Archiepiscopi, de Summis Pontificibus), which claims to predict the year of Judgment Day.

The book consists of a series of Latin phrases in 112 cryptic entries, supposedly predicting the line of Catholic popes from Celestine II to the current head of the Church.

The last part of the text says: “In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, Peter the Roman will reign, who will shepherd his flock amidst many tribulations, after which the city of the seven hills will be destroyed and the terrible Judge will judge the people. The End.”

The "city of seven hills" is understood to be Rome. According to one interpretation of the prophecy, the end of the world could come as early as 2027.

The Popes' Prophecy has appeared several times in popular fiction. However, modern scholars question its authenticity, arguing that the text is a mysterious forgery, likely created with political bias.

Others point to the Bible itself, which warns against trying to predict the date of the Second Coming. Matthew 24:36 says, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”