Hazel from Milwaukee called in to The Patrick Madrid Show with a burning question:
” Is Pope Leo XIV really the last Pope before the end of the world?! 😳”
Let’s break look at Patrick’s wise and calm response, complete with a good dose of holy common sense and a dash of “don’t freak out.”
The Prophecy of St. Malachy: Real or Rumor?
According to legend, St. Malachy, a 12th-century Irish bishop, had a vision in Rome of all the future Popes, from his time until the end of the world.
He supposedly wrote down 112 short Latin phrases describing each Pope.
The prophecy was not published until the 1590s, nearly 450 years after St. Malachy died.
Important note: The Catholic Church has never approved these writings, and their authenticity is very much in doubt.
🧩 Decoding the Mysterious Mottos
Patrick walks us through some examples of how some people have tried to match certain Popes to the Latin phrases:
“Pastor et Nauta” (Shepherd and Sailor) – John XXIII, because Venice = boats 🚢
“Flos Florum” (Flower of Flowers) – Paul VI had lilies on his coat of arms 🌸
“De Medietate Lunae” (Of the Half Moon) – John Paul I reigned for only 33 days 🌒
“De Labore Solis” (Of the Labor of the Sun) – John Paul II and the Fatima connection ☀️
⛪️ And Then Came…Petrus Romanus
This was the final motto:
“Peter the Roman, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations… then the City of Seven Hills will be destroyed… the dreadful Judge will judge His people…”
Yikes. People took this to mean the last Pope would mean the end of the world was here. For years, some thought Pope Francis was Petrus Romanus.
BUT…
We now have Pope Leo XIV
So, if Francis was supposed to be the “last Pope” and he wasn’t, the prophecy kind of falls apart there, doesn’t it?
Patrick’s Peaceful Advice
Don’t panic. Don’t get swept up in doomsday prophecy TikToks.
The prophecy may seem compelling in spots, but that doesn’t mean it’s true even if it happens to “fit” some Popes.
These mottos are cryptic, open to interpretation, and often retrofitted to match history.
Focus instead on what matters:
“Keep your eyes on Jesus. Be a good Catholic. Love God, receive the sacraments, pray the Rosary, read Scripture, help the poor… You’ll be fine.” 🙏
🚪 Final Word
The Church doesn’t teach that this prophecy is legit. It’s more spiritual curiosity than doctrine.
So, if it causes anxiety or confusion? Let it go. You’re not missing out on salvation by ignoring it.
💡 As Patrick put it: “In due time, we’ll find out. Until then… be holy.” ✝️
The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
