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Topics: Religion, World News, Pope Francis
Poppy Bilderbeck
Topics: Religion, World News, Pope Francis
A prophecy claims Pope Francis will be the last ever pope... but is it all 'nonsense'?
Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 years old on April 21.
His passing was confirmed by the Vatican in a statement from Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Farrell, announcing with 'deep sorrow' the Bishop of Rome had 'returned to the home of the Father' at 7:35am that morning.
Next in line for the head of the Catholic Church? Well, that's yet to be decided, however, eight cardinals have persistently come up as strong contenders.
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However, will there even be a successor? Well, according to a prophecy - aptly called The Prophecy of the Popes - no, Pope Francis is set to be the world's final pope.
In 1590, a document titled 'Prophecy of the Popes' was discovered and published by Benedictine Arnold de Wyon.
Also known as the 'Doomsday Prophecy' - reassuring eh? - it was attributed to an Irish saint called Malachy - a 12th Century Archbishop of Armagh.
The document contains a series of 112 short, cryptic Latin phrases which claim to predict the Catholic popes starting with Celestine II.
Given Pope Benedict - who came before Pope Francis - is counted as supposedly the 111th pope, well, you can do the math.
Not only this, but the prophecy stated: "In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The End."
And as luck - or the prophecy or fate apparently - would have it, Pope Francis chose his name in honour of St Francis of Assisi, who's father was named Pietro which can be translated to Peter in English, The Herald reports.
If correct, the prophecy is stating Pope Francis would be the last pope.
Why the last? Well, 'the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people' insinuates humankind coming to an end.
The prophecy has been right on several occasions, however, has also predicted things wrong on plenty of others too. And thankfully, most scholars consider the document as being part of an elaborate hoax.
The Catholic Church hasn't reportedly issued any official stance on the document and some theologians have actually dismissed it.
Professor of church history at Boston College, James Weiss, told HuffPost: "It is widely thought, also given who the author was and his relationship, [that the prophecies] were published to establish the case for election of one particular cardinal."
Another scholar branded the prophecy 'nonsense' - so basically, it's kind of up to you whether you actually want to listen to it or not.