Posted originally on Apr 22, 2025 by Martin Armstrong

QUESTION #1: Okay, you forecast that Pope Francis would last 12 to 13 years into 2025 and that he would not be the last Pope under the prophecy of Saint Malachy, who was said to have forecasted that there would be only 112 more popes before the Last Judgment. Some said he was the 112th pope, but you said you saw a change in 2025. Could you elaborate on your comments since you also targeted May of 2025 for a shift? Also, didn’t the “Third Secret” of Fatima, revealed by the Vatican in 2000, describe a vision of a pope and clergy being martyred amid ruins? With Europe pushing for war against Russia, it certainly seems that these prophecies are at least possible.

FV

QUESTION #2: Just looking at current betting odds for the next Pope, and knowing that he must encompass that “Peter the Roman” moniker, the likeliest candidates there would be Pietro Parilon, Peter Erdo, or Peter Turkson. Does Socrates have an official forecast based upon all available historical data herein?

KW

QUESTION #3: In 2020, you wrote that there was a cycle in religion and that the subsequent major upheaval would be in 2033. Now that Pope Francis is dead, will the last pope complete that cycle by 2033?

DD

QUESTION #4:  You have been promising to report on what you said was the convergence of three religions, all of which point to a major upheaval by 2032. Will you publish that report one day?

Jay

REPLY: Yes, I wrote “The Decline & Fall of Religion” back on January 7th, 2020, with that target. From a cyclical analytical viewpoint, I have always found it curious that the last Roman Emperor in the West took the name Romulus Augustus, which was the name of the first king of Rome and the first emperor. So, from a cyclical viewpoint, saying that the last pope will be named “Peter the Roman” would be cyclically balanced – you end where you begin. Some have said, “St. Malachy’s prophecy is nonsense.” I cannot verify that one way or the other. I find it curious, as we do see significant political and religious changes post-2032.

There’s also the possibility that the prophecy was misinterpreted, looking at the list of popes since 1143. Some sources say that Benedict XVI was the 111th, so that Francis would be the 112th. However, the motto for 112 is Petrus Romanus, which makes no sense. So does that mean the prophecy considers Francis as the 111th, and the next pope will be the 112th? But that doesn’t fit with the previous count. Maybe the resignation of Benedict XVI complicates things because popes usually serve until death, but he chose to resign. So perhaps the numbering skips or something. Alternatively, maybe the prophecy counts all popes, including those who reigned for a very short time.

Some have said, “St. Malachy’s prophecy is nonsense.” What I found curious was that his last Pope in the prophecy concludes with “Peter the Roman”, whose pontificate will allegedly precede the destruction of the city of Rome, since Peter is considered the first Pope. As far as the Fatima reported “Third Secret” is concerned, it does describe a vision of a pope and clergy being martyred amid ruins. The Vatican emphasized that the secret was symbolic, not a literal geopolitical prediction.

Pope Francis, who some have identified as the 112th pope in the Prophecy of Saint Malachy, corresponding to the final motto “Petrus Romanus” (Peter the Roman). However, this association is highly debated and controversial. The prophecy lists 112 mottos, starting with Pope Celestine II, who was elected in 1143. Each subsequent pope is assigned a motto in sequence. Benedict XVI, Francis’s predecessor, is linked to the 111th motto, “Gloria Olivae” (The Glory of the Olive), often tied to the Benedictine Order. By this count, Francis would be the 112th.

However, the final motto, “Petrus Romanus” describes a pope named Peter (or symbolically tied to Peter) from Rome. Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, chose the name Francis and has no direct connection to the name Peter or Roman heritage. This discrepancy leads many to question the prophecy’s validity or suggest it may refer to a future pope.  Some scholars widely regard the prophecy as a 16th-century forgery, not authentically written by Saint Malachy. Its vague, post-hoc interpretations and lack of historical evidence before 1595 further undermine its credibility. While Pope Francis is numerically the 112th pope in Malachy’s list, the expected attributes of “Petrus Romanus” do not align with him. The prophecy remains a topic of speculation rather than an accepted fact. It all hinges on the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI. Since he did not die in office, does that make Francis still the 111th pope, rather than the 112th?

I will try to get this report out next month. This review examines all the religious revolutions since ancient times and looks at the cyclical timing when religions change. Like everything else in life, there are cycles to religion from the rise of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, with each also undergoing splits and revolutions, just as we see in politics. This is not a prophecy of religious dogma, but an analysis of when significant changes occur. In all honesty, they are also inspired by the business cycle and economic changes.

Henry VIII was broke and rejected the Catholic Church, declaring the Church of England instead. This allowed him to confiscate the property of the Catholic Church to fund his reign. Napoleon confiscated Church assets and even imprisoned the pope. Constantine faced the Christian army and declared he had seen a vision in the sky to paint a cross on the shields, so the opposing forces did not want to kill fellow Christians. He declared Christianity the state religion and confiscated all the assets of the Pagan Temples. Religion has been abused for centuries and has also been driven by economics. It was King Philip IV of France who seized the Vatican, moved it to France, installed a French pope, and stole its assets.  There are countless examples of upheavals in religion throughout the centuries.