The Vatican is mourning the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88 due to respiratory failure. Yet even in death, his legacy—and the timing of his final moments—is stirring up a prophetic storm, not least in the form of the St. Malachy prophecy.
Just hours before his passing, Pope Francis surprised the world by making a brief appearance at Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square, delivering an emotional blessing to the faithful. Behind the scenes, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance made an unannounced visit to meet privately with the Pope. While the contents of that meeting remain undisclosed, its proximity to the Pope’s death adds a layer of mystery—and perhaps divine timing.
Jonathan Cahn’s Prophetic Alarm
For years, Pope Francis sparked controversy with reforms that some praised as progressive, while others, like New York Times best-selling author and prophetic voice Jonathan Cahn, issued grave warnings. Over a year ago, Cahn said the Pope was leading the church away from biblical foundations.
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“Right after he issued the directive to bless same sex unions,” Cahn recalled, “Pope Francis issued this directive, ‘Let us remain vigilant against… rigid ideological positions,’ meaning positions from the Word of God… Though he speaks as if his directives are for mercy and inclusivity, he has spoken of those who hold to the Bible or who are conservative as evil.”
Not Politics, Prophecy
To Cahn, this wasn’t politics—it was prophecy.
“He goes on, holding to such positions, meaning biblical positions, ‘separate us from reality and prevent us from moving forward.’ So according to the Pope, holding to the Word of God separates us from reality… If moving forward means moving forward off a cliff, then I don’t want to be part of that forward-moving movement.”
Cahn’s most chilling message may have been a direct address to the Pope himself:
“You believe you are the vicar of Jesus, the one who has been left with the charge of Messiah… But Jesus speaks of those left in charge… who led the house against the ways of the master. When the master returned, he judged that servant… God is real and His Word is eternal… The blood of the millions and millions you help lead away… will be upon you.”
Saint Malachy’s Chilling Prophecy
Now, with the seat of St. Peter vacant, another ancient voice is echoing louder than ever—the 12th-century prophecy of Saint Malachy.
According to the prophecy, each pope was foretold with incredible accuracy, culminating in one final figure: Petrus Romanus, or Peter the Roman, who will lead the church through great tribulations until its destruction and the return of Christ.
Peter the Roman: A Name Worth Watching
One of the top contenders to succeed Pope Francis? Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican. His name translates to Peter, and he’s from Italy. A literal Peter the Roman.
This is may be more than coincidence—it may be prophetic convergence.
The prophecy of Saint Malachy describes the final pope as one who will “feed his sheep amid many tribulations,” before “the city on seven hills will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The end.”
While Pope Francis’s name didn’t align with this prophetic list, the one who may follow him might be the one the prophecy warned of all along.
A World in Alignment With Revelation
And we must remember, this prophecy is not Scripture—but it could still serve as a warning.
We are seeing a rise in calls for a one-world religion, digital currencies and global governance, pieces that many believe are tied directly to the system of the beast in Revelation. A new pope, especially one aligned with progressive agendas and globalist ideologies, could accelerate this trajectory.
But believers don’t need to live in fear.
As Jonathan Cahn reminded us, “God is real and His Word is eternal.” And as Revelation 22:12 declares, “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me to repay each one for what he has done.”
Yes, we may be standing at the edge of prophecy fulfilled—but we are also standing on the promises of God.
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James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
