Robert Francis Prevost has been appointed as the 267th Pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV.
Prior to the announcement of his name, the audience assembled in front of St. Peter’s Basilica chanted ‘Viva il Papa,’ which translates to ‘long live the Pope.’
Leo, a native of Chicago, is the inaugural American to serve as the leader of the Catholic Church. Although he hails from the United States, the Vatican has characterized him as the second pope originating from the Americas, following Francis, who was born in Argentina.
His election instilled a sense of renewed optimism, particularly as he is thought to align with the values and perspectives of the late Pope Francis on various matters, such as poverty, migration, and environmental concerns, among others.
As Catholics commemorate Pope Leo XIV, a prophecy looms over the future of the church.
According to a prophecy known as the Prophecy of the Popes, it is asserted that there will be 112 popes following the era of Malachy, an Irish mystic from the 12th century, with the final pope designated as ‘Peter the Roman.’
As reported by USA Today, some believe that Francis, who passed away on April 21 at the age of 88, may be recognized as the 112th pope on that list.
In 2013, Josh Canning, the director of the Newman Centre’s Chaplaincy in Toronto, rejected the notion, stating, ‘I am uncertain how one could associate Peter the Roman with Pope Francis.’
Father James Weiss, an Episcopal priest and professor at Boston College, has labeled the prophecy as a forgery, stating, “These prophecies are indeed a forgery. I find no credibility in them.”
Additionally, Weiss contends that the popes mentioned in the prophecy are not identified by specific names. Instead, they are described as the ‘swift bear’ and the ‘rose of Umbria.’
Professor Joëlle Rollo-Koster, an expert in medieval history, asserts that there is no evidence to support the claim that Malachy authored any prophecies. She stated, ‘As a historian, I rely heavily on evidence, and this lack of proof is, for me, the definitive indication that Malachy did not make or write any prophecies.’
The prophecy, regardless of one’s belief in it, does not indicate any association with Pope Leo XIV.
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