Prophecy of the Popes | Saint Malachy's Countdown

Summary

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The Why Files: Operation Podcast

Episode: Prophecy of the Popes | Saint Malachy's Countdown

Date: July 18, 2026
Host: AJ Hecklefish
Co-host: Sidekick

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Episode Overview

This episode explores the legendary "Prophecy of the Popes," attributed to 12th-century Irish Archbishop Saint Malachy. The hosts investigate the prophecy’s claims that detail each pope through enigmatic Latin phrases, ending with a prediction of Rome’s destruction and Judgment Day. Blending historical investigation, skepticism, and signature banter, the episode traces the legend, key interpretations, its revival in modern times (especially after the death of Pope Francis), and its ultimate accuracy — or lack thereof.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Origins of the Prophecy

• Introduction to St. Malachy:
  • In 1139, Malachy allegedly experienced a vision in Rome, seeing images of every future pope and listing them as cryptic Latin mottoes.

    "Malachi saw pope after pope. Man after man, century after century. But not names or faces. Images. A castle above a river. An eagle with open claws. A sliver of a moon..." — AJ (04:18)

• The List:
  • The list comprises 112 mottoes, each corresponding to a pope, ending with a final vision: "a city on seven hills, burning. The end of the world. Judgment Day."
• Secret and Rediscovery:
  • Malachy's manuscript was supposedly kept secret in the Vatican until rediscovered in 1590, after which historian Alfonso Chacón compared the mottoes to historical popes — and shockingly, found matches for all 74 up to that point.

Initial Accuracy and Church Reaction

• Chacón’s Verification:
  • Early entries were verified closely with historical records, e.g., “Ex Castro Tiberis” (from a castle on the Tiber River) fitting Celestine II.
  • The Church, while embroiled in Reformation, found comfort in a prophecy that assured continuity through 38 more popes.
• Skepticism Emerges:
  • Despite the astonishing correlations, skeptics questioned the prophecy’s miraculous accuracy, noting that only the past could be so neatly matched.

Later and Recent Fulfillments (and Misses)

• Notable "Hits" from the List:

  • Examples include:
    • "Aquila rapax" (rapacious eagle) for Pius VII, who was arrested by Napoleon’s soldiers, whose emblem was a bronze eagle.
    • “Religio depopulata” (religion laid waste) for Benedict XV, who reigned during World War I’s devastation and the Russian Revolution.
    • "Pastor et nauta" (shepherd and sailor) for John XXIII, once the Patriarch of Venice, a city of sailors.
    • “De labore solis” (from the labor of the sun) for John Paul II, born and buried during solar eclipses.
    • “Gloria olivae” (glory of the olive) for Benedict XVI, taking his name from the Benedictines, whose symbol is an olive branch.
  • Quote:

    "The man who chased the prophecy lost. The man who ignored it became the shepherd and the sailor." — AJ (16:58)

• The Final Entry: Peter the Roman

  • Malachy’s prophecy is said to end with Peter the Roman, who oversees the Church’s destruction.
  • When Pope Francis was elected, connections were made (his father's name was Pietro, and he had Italian, i.e., 'Roman' blood), suggesting he might fit the prediction.

Modern Developments and Interpretations

• Death of Pope Francis and Beyond:
  • In this podcast's timeline, Pope Francis dies in 2025. Robert Prevost becomes Leo XIV, the first American pope—yet the world does not end, "the prophecy failed. But did it?"—AJ (00:25)
• Alternate Theories
  • Some say the final motto has been misread and it's about years, not popes.
  • Others propose that the count must exclude antipopes or account for Pope Benedict XVI's resignation and subsequent "emeritus" status.

The Real Origins: Was It All a Forgery?

• Critical Scholarship:
  • No trace of the prophecy in Church or public records prior to 1595; the supposed backstory appears only in 19th-century sources.
  • The only accurate mottoes fit events and popes that occurred before the list’s publication; later entries become vague and open to interpretation.
  • Connections and “hits” may be caused by stretching or retrofitting.
  • Likely created during the 1590 papal election to support candidate Cardinal Simoncelli, whose motto matched his hometown.
  • Quote:

    "The prophecy was probably a forgery created by Cardinal Gelamo Simoncelli during the election of 1590. The next motto on the list reads from the old city. Simoncelli’s hometown was Orvieto, in Latin, the old city... But it doesn't matter. Simoncelli lost." — AJ (35:18)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Divine Vagueness:

  "You're God. You're omnipotent. Why? Symbols just send names, dates. A spreadsheet." — Sidekick (07:15)

• On the Annoyance of Prophecy’s Flexibility:

  "The prophecy of the Popes has been failing for years. And every time it does, the prophecy gets an update to make it fit." — AJ (36:43)

• On Apocalypticism:

  "The more interesting question is why? Why are we so fascinated with the end of the world?...We can’t control how many days we have left, but we can control what we do with those days. So treat tomorrow like it exists. Learn something. Love someone. Do something that matters." — AJ (37:43)

• On Election Stunts:

  "Cardinal Francis Spellman of New York... rented a boat, filled it with sheep, and sailed up and down the Tiber River. A shepherd and a sailor. Spellman used the motto as a campaign slogan." — AJ (16:35)
  "That is the greatest campaign stunt I've ever heard. Boat, sheep, river. Zero notes." — Sidekick (16:41)

• On the Prophecy’s Flexibility:

  "If the prophecy wasn’t a prophecy, then what was it? Probably election propaganda." — AJ (35:43)

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Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:25 | Pope Francis dies; prophecy claims apocalypse follows | | 04:18 | Malachy’s original vision, the imagery-based list | | 06:16 | Chacón’s historical verification of the prophecy | | 11:26 | Malachy’s relationship with St. Bernard, self-predicted death | | 12:41 | Prophecy’s later "hits" - Napoleon & French Revolution | | 16:35 | “Shepherd and sailor” campaign stunt | | 18:50 | John Paul II and solar eclipses | | 21:38 | Benedict XVI, the “glory of the olive” | | 24:31 | Pandemic, Vatican scandals, tribulations of Francis’ reign | | 27:40 | Leonardo XIV & new American pope’s relevance | | 30:58 | Prophecy misread: about years, not popes | | 32:24 | Historical evidence contradicting the prophecy’s origins | | 36:43 | AJ’s summation on prophecy’s repeated reinvention | | 37:43 | Reflection on apocalyptic fascination |

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Conclusion & Takeaways

Is it real?

• The podcast weighs both the awe of the prophecy’s historical resonance and strong evidence for it being a manufactured election tool from the 16th century. The episode ultimately concludes that the prophecy’s accuracy is illusory — the earlier matches are retrospective fits, later mottos so vague they’re open to endless interpretations, and its story was likely crafted for political purposes.

Bigger Picture:

• Humanity is naturally drawn to stories of cosmic endings. Whether it’s a prophecy, disaster movie, or speculation about AI or climate cataclysm, we crave stories that give meaning to mortality and historical uncertainty.

Final Thought:

"Don’t focus on your death. Just focus on doing everything you can so that when it gets here, you don’t have a single regret." — AJ (37:53)

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Tone

Lighthearted, skeptical, and engaging, the episode mixes historical research with playful banter, inviting listeners to think critically — but never takes its own apocalyptic drama too seriously.

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Transcript

[AJ Hecklefish]

This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. You chose to hit play on this podcast today. Smart Choice make another smart choice with Auto Quote Explorer to compare rates for multiple car insurance companies all at once. Try it at progressive.com, progressive Casualty Insurance and affiliates not available in all states and situations. Prices may vary on how you buy. Experience a membership that backs your business journey with American Express business Platinum. Earn 5 times Membership Rewards points on flights in prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com, plus apply to find out your welcome offer, which could be as high as 300,000 Membership Rewards points American Express Business Platinum there's nothing like it. Terms apply, welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. Learn [e-mail] Business Platinum On April 21, 2025, Pope Francis died. According to one of the most famous prophecies in church history, Francis was the final pope. After him was Rome burns and Judgment Day begins. Seventeen days later, white smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel. Robert Prevost stepped onto the balcony as Leo xiv, the first American Pope. Rome was fine. The prophecy failed. But did it? Because buried inside the original Latin, there's a countdown. The list doesn't end with the Pope. It ends during a year. That year is 2027. Every few decades, there's a moment where the smart money and the everyday saver end up wanting the exact same thing. This might be one of those moments. 39 trillion in national debt. Another trillion printed every few weeks. Stagflation isn't a headline anymore. It's just what's happening in your paycheck. Look at where the money's actually moving. Gold's up around 35% over the past year. Silver's up 125%, the stock market about 27%. Bank of America is now forecasting silver at $309 an ounce. Top banks are projecting gold at $6,300. These aren't fringe predictions. They're coming from the same institutions that spent years steering people away from metals. Now here's the part most people don't know. You can move an existing IRA or 401 into physical gold and s no taxes, no penalties. That's what Goldencrest Metals does. It's a boutique firm. No call center. No script reading. Just real people walking you through it. Free portfolio review. Free info guide. Zero obligation. No pressure. No overselling. No talking down to you or around you. You get straight answers from real people who care. Go to goldencrestmetals.com thewifiles or call 880-894-99172. That's goldencrestmetals.com Thewatfiles or call 888-949-9172 for your 100% free info kit. One late night In Rome in 1139, an archbishop knelt in prayer near the tomb of St. Peter. He was a long way from home, and his heart was heavy. Malachi traveled from Ireland to Rome to support the new pope. After years of chaos, Innocent II spent eight years fighting a rival for control of the church. It began as an internal political feud, but escalated into a military campaign that drew in most of Europe. Innocent won the war, but it left a scar. He saw firsthand that the papacy could be destroyed and the entire Church with it. That night, Malachi prayed. Not just for the pope, for all popes, for the Church itself. Then God answered. Malachi felt a vibration growing in his body, like electricity, but the energy was coming from him. Then he had a vision.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

It's such a good vibration. It's such a sweet sensation.

[AJ Hecklefish]

How'd we get there?

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Maliki Mack in a funky punch.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Okay, can you not make heretical jokes during my setup?

[Co-host/Sidekick]

My jokes are hysterical.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Heretical?

[Co-host/Sidekick]

What'd I say?

[AJ Hecklefish]

Malachi saw pope after pope. Man after man, century after century. But not names or faces. Images. A castle above a river. An eagle with open claws. A sliver of a moon. An image for every pope who would ever live. Malachi made a list of the visions, each a short phrase in Latin. 112 popes, one after another. Then one final vision. A city on seven hills, burning. The end of the world. Judgment Day. He gave the manuscript to Pope Innocent II as a comfort. The pope who almost lost the papacy now had proof that the line of Peter runs unbroken until the end of the world. But a list that ends with the apocalypse isn't a comfort. It's a countdown. Pope Innocent knew how dangerous this was. He locked the manuscript in the Vatican archives and never spoke of it again. Nobody knew it existed then, in 1590, somebody found it hidden for 450 years. 74 popes came and went during that time. St. Malachy was right about all of them. In September 1590. In 1890, Pope Urban VII died just 12 days after his election. So the cardinals returned to Rome to choose a new pope. But then a document was found that said the elections never mattered. Four and a half centuries earlier, a saint made a list. Every pope was already predicted. A list was terrifying enough. But what really upset the Church was how the list ended. The cardinals needed to know if the list was real. So they turned to Alfonso Chacon. He was the most respected papal historian alive. He literally wrote a book called the Lives of the Popes. If anyone could verify this list, it was him.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

The Lives of Two Popes. Gravity etu Mama tabien. I had no idea how prolific he was.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Chacon, not Cuaron.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

This is Papa Yonigo. Papa, let's call the whole thing you a.

[AJ Hecklefish]

So Chacon started checking the phrases that Malachi used to identify each pope. Each phrase is called a motto. A few words that capture the man. The first motto is Ex Castro Tiberis, from a castle on the Tiber. The first pope on the list was Celestine II, elected in 1143. He was born in Citta di Castello, castle town on the banks of the Tiber River. Malachi was right. The second entry says Inimicus ex pulsus, the enemy driven out. That was Lucius ii, a pope at war with Rome's own senate. They stripped him of the title. When Lucius led an assault to take it back, he was stoned to death. Malachi was right again. Another is Sus in cribro, A pig in a sieve. That sounds like a hard motto to pin on a priest. But Pope Urban III's family name was Crivelli. And the Italian word for sieve is crivello. And the Crivelli family crest included a pig.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

See? See, this is my problem with visions. You're God. You're omnipotent. Why? Symbols just send names, dates. A spreadsheet.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Prophecy doesn't really work like a spreadsheet.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

That's why it took him 400 years to solve it. One tab, two columns. Pope. Yeah, but no, you gotta give me pity.

[AJ Hecklefish]

To sleeve sieve.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Whatever.

[AJ Hecklefish]

He checked 74 entries. Malachi was right 74 times. This was a big deal. In 1590, the Reformation was tearing Christianity in half. Protestant preachers called the pope the Antichrist and said the papacy was living its final days. And here was a 450-year-old prophecy promising 38 more popes to come. Malachi's document was a guarantee of survival. The same list that comforted a pope in 1139 now comforted the whole church. In 1595, Benedictine monk Arnold Vion published the full list so the world could read it. Three columns. The motto, the pope it matched, and Chacon's notes. But Chacon's notes stop at entry number 74. Erwin VII. It was 1590, so Chacon could only solve the popes of the past. The rest of the list predicts the future.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Oh dear God. This guy had the Catholic Sports Almanac. He could have made a fortune. But he public domained it.

[AJ Hecklefish]

You rooted for Biff, didn't you?

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Bach Brown did business with terrorists, was best friends with a teen boy, and created God knows how many dangerous timelines. And Biff is the villain.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Wouldn't you put it that way?

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Justitio po Biff. Put that in your prophecy and smuggit.

[AJ Hecklefish]

And at the very bottom of the list, the future ends. The last entry isn't a motto, it's a full paragraph and names the final pope, Peter the Roman, the man on the throne when Rome burns. But even though Malachi predicted 74 popes in order, there were still skeptics. So they looked into St. Malachy to see if he made any other predictions that came true. They didn't like what they found. This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Here's something interesting. We live in a moment where talking about mental health is normal. It's on tv, it's on social media, it's everywhere. So you'd think actually reaching out for support would be easy by now. Turns out it's not. BetterHelp's 2026 State of Stigma report surveyed 2,000Americans and revealed that 85% of Americans believe getting support is wise, yet 74% say society discourages people from doing so. Almost everyone agrees therapy is a good idea, but most people still feel like something's holding them back from actually doing it. Honestly, I think a lot of that changes one conversation at a time. If you've got a friend who's been thinking about it, telling them to just go for it might be the push they need. And when you're ready, BetterHelp makes that first step simple. BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform with more than 30,000 therapists who have served over 6 million people globally. It has an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 for a live session based on over 1.7 million client reviews. Therapists are fully licensed and work according to a strict code of conduct. A short questionnaire helps match you with a therapist, and if it's not the right fit, you can switch anytime. Don't let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% [e-mail] yfiles that's betterhelp.com yfiles in the 12th century, the Shinna family controlled the office of Archbishop of Armagh, the highest Catholic seat in Ireland, and they ran it Like a monarchy, the title passed from father to son, and most of them weren't even priests.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

An office you inherit, don't need qualifications for and can't be fired from.

[AJ Hecklefish]

So Congress, armed clans, defended the arrangement, and challenging it was a good way to die. Malachi challenged it. He took the office, pushed the family out, and survived. Then he did something nobody ever does after winning a war. He walked away. Back to the work he cared about. Rebuilding monasteries, reforming the clergy, tying the Irish Church closer to Rome, tying the

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Irish closer to the Church. That's like trying to find a tidal link between fiery lamb vindaloo and diarrhea. That's like trying to find a tidal link between petty theft in Florida. That's like trying to find a tidal link between cocaine and a business idea. Here, bang. The three for you. Take your pick.

[AJ Hecklefish]

You already know why Malachi went to Rome. And you know what he did there. Here's what happened. On the road on the way south, he stopped at Clairvaux Abbey. Its abbot Bernard had so much influence, even popes asked him for advice. Kings read his letters. Crusaders listened when he spoke. Bernard was a monk at a small monastery in France. How does that man get this kind of power? Because St. Bernard was an early patron and leader of the Knights Templar. A good friend to have. Malachi arrived with no army, no wealth, and no political office. But Bernard treated him like an equal. Equal, anyway. The men became close friends. Years later, back in Ireland, the monks asked Malachi where he would die. Malachi said, clerval. They asked him when he would die. Malachi said all Souls Day. The Day of the dead. In 1148, Malachi headed back to Rome. But he never made it. By the time he reached Clairvaux, he was burning with fever. He died at Clairvaux on November 2nd, All Souls Day, just as he predicted. He was 54 years old again.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Back to the spreadsheets. He knew when he was gonna die. The guy got a fever. If I find out, he substitutes one of the kindergarten a week before.

[AJ Hecklefish]

You're missing the point.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Guy predicts his shoe is gonna smell at 11:40. So he steps on a horsey grump that march and says, see?

[AJ Hecklefish]

Bernard wrote a biography of St. Malachi. He said, call it a wish or call it a prophecy. Either way, Malachi was right. That's the man behind the list. And that's why Rome believed it. When Malachi predicted something, it happened. He became the first Irish saint ever canonized by a pope. But everything Chacon verified was already history. From 1595, forward. The Mottoes had to predict the future again. People were skeptical, especially about the motto that described a bronze eagle dragging a pope away. But 200 years later, that's exactly what happened. That bronze eagle belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte. And before the eagle was finished, the list would name two popes in a row. The first was Pius vi. His motto reads Peregrinos Apostolikos, the apostolic traveler. During the French Revolution, troops stormed Rome and pulled Pius VI off his throne. He died in 1799, a prisoner in the south of France, the apostolic traveler buried far from home. The very next motto reads Aquila rapax, the rapacious eagle. Rapacious means greedy, aggressive and never satisfied. But Maliki wasn't describing the new pope, Pius vii. He described the man coming for him. Napoleon wanted the Pope to crown him Emperor as proof of God's will. Pius agreed on one condition. Napoleon and his wife Josephine never had a church wedding, and the Pope refused to crown a couple living in sin. So the day before his coronation, Napoleon got married in secret. Then, at the ceremony, he took the crown out of the Pope's hands and placed it on his own head. That wasn't enough for Napoleon. Nothing ever was. He decided the Pope should answer to him. Pius objected, and Napoleon was excommunicated. Napoleon sent soldiers into the papal palace in the middle of the night. They arrested the Pope, dragged him out of Rome and held him prisoner for years. And those soldiers marched under Napoleon's standard, a bronze eagle. The rapacious eagle took the Pope, just as Malachi predicted 670 years earlier. The list continued. Crux de cruce. Cross from a cross for Pius ix. When the Royal House of Savoy took Rome, it stripped the Pope of his lands. It ended a thousand years of papal rule over central Italy. The emblem on every Savoy banner was a white cross. Pius IX lost his kingdom to a cross. The next motto was Lumen, a light in the sky for Leo xiii. On his family crest was a comet streaking across a blue sky. Then the list turned dark. Religio de populata. Religion laid waste. That was for Benedict XV. He took the throne in September 1914, just after the start of the First World War. Benedict begged Europe for peace, and Europe ignored him. Catholic nations fought other Catholic nations. Churches became hospitals. Priests climbed into the trenches and died in them. By the end of the war, millions of Christians were dead. And the Russian Revolution happened at the same time. The new government seized the churches, shot the priests and declared war on God himself. Religion laid waste on a scale nobody in 1595 could have imagined. But Somehow, Malachi did. When the list was made public, instead of dismissing or denouncing it, the Church started to follow it. In the 17th and 18th centuries, popes had their own mottoes stamped onto their coronation medals. The prophecy described the popes, and the popes were happy to wear the prophecy. And in 1958, one cardinal tried to step into the prophecy himself. That year, the next motto was Pastor et Nauta, the shepherd and the sailor. Cardinal Francis Spelman of New York read those words and made a plan. He rented a boat, filled it with sheep, and sailed up and down the Tiber River. A shepherd and a sailor. Spellman used the motto as a campaign slogan.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

That is the greatest campaign stunt I've ever heard. Boat, sheep, river. Zero notes.

[AJ Hecklefish]

It didn't work.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

The cardinals passed on it because he peaked too early. You don't do the sheep boat before the Conclave. You do the sheep boat after amateur hour. I could have won an election. Okay, human, go fetch me a pointy hat and start calling me your Eminence.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Hard pass.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Hard pass, your Eminence.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Instead, they elected Angelo Rancalli as Pope John xxiii. Rancalli was the patriarch of Venice, a city built on water and filled with sailors. As Pope, he called himself a shepherd and urged the Church to act like one. The man who chased the prophecy lost. The man who ignored it became the shepherd and the sailor. For Paul vi, Flos Florum, the flower of flowers. His family's crest carried three fleur de lis, three flowers from the half moon. For Pope John Paul I, born in Belluno, the beautiful moon. He was elected just as the moon reached its last quarter. His reign lasted 33 days, 1/2 moon to the next. Pope after pope, the list kept hitting. By the end of the 20th century, only two mottos were left. Before Peter the Roman. The next model was De Labore Solis, the labor of the sun. Malachi was right about that one, too. Let's be honest. It wasn't bad luck that cost you that client. Somebody didn't just pick up the phone. It rang. And rang and rang. 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Always say hello with Quo. Try quo for free plus get 20% off your first six months when you go to quo.com yes, that's qU-U-O.com y On May 18, 1920, a partial solar eclipse crossed the southern hemisphere. That same day, Carol Laetia was born in Poland. He became Pope John Paul II. John Paul led the church for more than 26 years. He took a bullet in St. Peter's Square and survived. He outlasted communism in Eastern Europe. He traveled farther than any pope in history. He died on April 2, 2005. His funeral was six days later. And on that day, another eclipse. The labor of the sun the last motto before Peter the Roman is Gloria Olivi, the glory of the olive. In 2005, Joseph Ratzinger was elected and chose the name Benedict. The Benedictines have an order called the Olivia, their symbol, an olive branch. Maliki was right again. The list was down to one final name, Peter the Roman. After him, nothing. But in 2013, Benedict shocked the world by resigning the first pope to ever step down in 600 years. Suddenly, a storm hit Rome and lightning struck St. Peter's Dome twice. The list was taunting them because Benedict officially left office on February 28, the feast day of Saint Romanus. The throne of Peter was empty on the day of the Romans. Twelve days later, the cardinals entered the conclave, and the whole world was watching for a Peter. Most people expected Cardinal Peter Turksen of Ghana to be elected. Instead, they chose a long shot, Jorge Mario Bergolla of Argentina, the first Jesuit pope, first pope from the Americas. He chose the name Francis. So Malachi was finally wrong. Well, not so fast. Peter the Roman was right there inside the new pope's name. Francis took his name from St. Francis of Assisi. And the father of St. Francis was called Pietro. Peter Bergoglio was the son of Italian immigrants, Roman blood on the throne of Rome. The new pope didn't need to find the name. The name found him. And when Francis stepped onto the Balcony. He fulfilled the prophecy. Peter the Roman, the last pope. And after him, nothing. The prophecy gives Peter the Roman more than a motto. It tells us what happens during his reign. In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit Peter the Roman, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations. When these things are finished, the City of Seven Hills will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The end. The City of Seven Hills is Rome. Peter guides the Church through one final persecution. Then the city falls. Then comes judgment. You'd expect the Catholic Church to have an opinion about a text that predicts its own annihilation. It doesn't. In 400 years, the Vatican has never condemned the prophecy of the popes, never endorsed it, never denounced it, never ruled on it at all. And this is a church with opinions. When the Da Vinci Code came out, the Vatican told Catholics not to read it. A thriller about a fictional bloodline got condemned. A prophecy describing the destruction of Rome and the death of the Church got four centuries of silence. Silence is also an answer. And Maliki wasn't the only one who saw a Pope inside a ruined city. In 1909, Pope Pius X collapsed. He came back with a terrifying vision. A future Pope fleeing Rome, climbing over the dead bodies of his own priests to escape the Vatican. Eight years later, the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in a field outside Fatima, Portugal. She showed them hell. She said another world war was coming. And she gave them one final vision, one the world wouldn't learn for decades. The third secret was written down in 1944 and locked inside the Vatican. It stayed sealed until the year 2000. The vision starts with an angel holding a flaming sword. The blade caught fire, ready to burn the world. But the flames died out when they touched the light shining from Mary's hand. Then the angel pointed at the earth and cried out one word three times. Penance. Penance, Penance. Then the children saw the Holy Father. He crossed the city in ruins, praying for the souls of the corpses he passed. Bishops, priests, and ordinary believers followed him up a mountain toward a large wooden cross. At the top, soldiers opened fire. The Pope fell. The clergy fell. The soldiers killed the believers behind them. The vision ends with two angels gathering the blood of the martyrs and sprinkling it over the souls making their way to God. Three different centuries, three different visions. All of them saw the same thing. A Pope walking through the corpses of his own church while the city falls around him. During the reign of Francis, the prophecy seemed to be coming true. In March 2020, the pandemic closed churches around the world. One rainy day, Francis stood alone in St. Peter's Square. Prayed to an empty city. No crowd, no choir. One old man in white alone in the rain in a square built to hold, to hold hundreds of thousands. It looked like the end of the world. It wasn't exactly climbing over corpses, but there were a lot of people dying

[Co-host/Sidekick]

from COVID Hold on. Did you say dying from or dying with?

[AJ Hecklefish]

Let's not do this again.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Fine, fine. We can discuss again in two weeks. After we flatten the cave.

[AJ Hecklefish]

War came back to Europe. Churches burned in Africa and Asia, and Christians died for attending them. Inside the Vatican, scandal after scandal, and people kept leaving the church. Whatever many tribulations was supposed to mean, Francis was living it. And across town, in The Basilica of St. Paul, outside the walls, the countdown hangs in plain sight. Every pope has a portrait there, a ring of faces circling the church from St. Peter to today. With the current Pope's portrait lit by a spotlight. They say that when the wall runs out of room for portraits, the world ends under Francis. The spotlight was near the end of the row. Francis led the church through 12 years of tribulation. Then, on April 21, 2025, he died. That should have triggered the apocalypse. But Rome didn't burn. Judgment Day didn't come. Instead, a conclave gathered to choose another Pope. Scholars were relieved until they took a closer look at the original prophecy. Four hundred years ago, the text was published with a misprint. One small error that changed everything. The end of the world prophecy isn't counting down popes at all. It's counting down years. And the clock is still ticking. This message is sponsored by Greenlight. Here's something worth thinking about. As kids grow up, parenting gets easier in some ways. But teaching them about money? That part never really does. Kids need hands on experience. And that's exactly what Greenlight makes possible. Greenlight is a debit card and money app built for families. Parents can send money quickly and see how their kids spend and save while kids build real world money skills. Unlike cash, where you have zero visibility, or a regular bank account where you can't set spending controls, Greenlight gives you real time notifications and flexible controls so you can guide kids while they're learning. Kids are earning and handling money younger than ever, and they're forming money habits right now. The app also makes learning fun with games that teach money concepts, helping kids learn to save investors spend wisely. There's even a chores feature with one time or recurring tasks tracked allowance earnings and streaks that reinforce consistency connecting work to money the way real life works. Millions of parents and kids already use greenlight to raise financially smart kids. Every day they're handling money without guidance is a missed opportunity. Start your risk free greenlight trial [e-mail] y don't wait to teach your kids real world money skills. That's greenlight.come to get started. Greenlight.come y. On May 8, 2025, white smoke rose over the Vatican, and instead of a doomed pope stepping over bodies, a man from Chicago walked onto the balcony and waved. Cardinal Robert Prevost took the name Leo xiv, the first pope from the United States. But he wasn't called Peter and Rome was still standing. Prophecy researchers were relieved but also confused. Why were the predictions so accurate, except for the last, most important one, the answer was a misprint. In the last two lines in the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit Peter the Roman, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations. But in the original Latin, that sentence is actually two in the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there we'll sit. Then comes a period. Peter the Roman begins on the next line. For centuries, everyone read those two lines as one sentence that traces to 1624, when editor Thomas Messingham reprinted the prophecy and merged the two paragraphs into one. His version became the standard, and that original break was forgotten. But splitting those two sentences means any number of popes can sit during the final persecution before Peter the Roman appears. Leo didn't break the prophecy he filled the gap. The count can also change. The original list wasn't numbered, and it includes several antipopes. An antipope is a rival who challenged the legitimate pope. Remove those, and every later motto moves up one place. In 2021, a German historian ran the count again and removed three antipopes under his system. Leo XIV isn't the last pope. Two more come after him. And there's another way to change the count. When Benedict resigned in 2013, Francis was elected. But Benedict stayed in the Vatican as pope emeritus for years. Some argue that Benedict's resignation was never valid under church law. If that's true, Benedict stayed the true pope until his death in 2022. And Francis doesn't count at all. And Malachi's list still has room. Then there's 2027. Buried in the middle of the list is a motto that reads axis meditate signe the axle in the middle of the sign. An axle is the center of a wheel, the point that everything turns around. The model belonged to Pope Sixtus V, who took office in 1585. Celestine II, the first pope on the list, took the throne in 1143. Then 442 years later, we get to the middle. The axle in 1585, count forward another 442 years. The count ends in 2027. And Sixtus carried a picture of the countdown everywhere he went. His coat of arms shows a lion with an axle laid across its middle. For 400 years, nobody thought much about it. A lion on a Shield. Then in 2025, the church elected a pope who took the name Leo. There's the lion. The prophecy pointed to Leo, and it may have pointed at him twice. Remember why Francis fit the final motto. The son of Italian immigrants. Roman blood on the throne of Rome. Now look closer at the man from Chicago. His grandfather was born in Sicily and his name was Regetano. When he came to America, he changed his name to Prevost. The new pope carries Italian blood and a name that isn't his. Maybe Peter the Roman isn't coming. Maybe he's already on the throne. And Francis behaved like a man who knew on his first mourning as pope, he didn't go to St. Peter's he crossed the city to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and knelt inside. That church holds the tomb of Pope Sixtus V. The axle. Twelve years later, when Francis died, he skipped the Vatican crypt where popes are buried and chose Santa Maria Maggiore for his own grave. Peter the Roman rests under the same roof as the Pope whose motto starts the countdown. Even the sky has plans for 2027. On August 2nd of that year, the moon crosses the sun over the Mediterranean and holds there for six minutes. That's a long eclipse. Astronomers already call it the eclipse of the century. And its shadow runs straight across the old Roman world. Spain, North Africa, Egypt. Malachi's list once marked a pope with the labor of the sun. Now the list ends when the sun goes dark. The pieces fit. The prophecy was never about the man. It was about the year. As I write this, we have about six months left until the year of the Apocalypse. I always felt like we were in the final days. So now that they're here, go out and enjoy them. But after that, ye shall prepare to be judged.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

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[AJ Hecklefish]

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[AJ Hecklefish]

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[AJ Hecklefish]

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[AJ Hecklefish]

A medieval saint sees the future. The Vatican hides his warning. Four centuries later, the world finds it. And the greatest historian in Rome proved it never misses. The prophecy of the Popes is one of the all time greatest stories. But is it true? Yep. Well, let's look at the public record.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Oh no.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Malachi's vision. The earliest version of that story appeared in 1871, not 1139. The origin story of the prophecy is younger than the telegram.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

I don't like this scene. Can we go back to the lightning scene? The lightning scene was fun. This feels like school.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Bernard of Clairvaux wrote a detailed biography of Malachy. He did write that he predicted his own death. But he doesn't mention predictions about popes. In fact, nobody does. There's no mention of the prophecy for another 400 years. When Vaion published the list in 1595, he didn't claim it was found in the Vatican archive. He never said where it came from. Just that people wanted to see it. It is true that Vayon included Chacon's comments to prove the prediction predictions. Small problem. The only accurate predictions already happened. The early models fit because Chacon made them fit. After 1590, precise names and titles became vague. Phrases like Country Animal and Delight of the Cross. These models are vague because Chacon ran out of history. That is, if Chacon actually had anything to do with the list at all. Chacon was a famous scholar who specialized in manuscripts and the papacy. He was alive when the list was released. His name was on it. But he never mentioned it. Not ever. Some say his silence proves he had nothing to do with it. So why didn't he refute it? Well, this is the 16th century. It's not like he could file a copyright claim. He was a serious historian and a priest. He would have distanced himself from the list, not called attention to it. But we're not at a dead end. The real author did leave clues. In 1557, the church historian Onofrio Vampino published the history of every pope. His book contained a handful of mistakes. And the prophecy repeats those same mistakes. Take the motto for John xxii, the Bony Shoemaker. The printed answer says his father made shoes. His father was a banker. The shoemaker mistake comes from Panvino's book. And the prophecy used it. The 2027 number is easily debunked Sixtus is supposed to be the middle of the list. He's the axel, but he's number 73. That's nowhere near the middle. So even if you believe that Sixtus is is the axle, we have 20 or more popes to go. That could mean over 100 years. As for the lion, there's been 13 popes named Leo before this one. Put a lion on a list of 100 mottos, and sooner or later you'll get a lion. Popes usually choose their second name in honor of their favorite saint or to honor someone in the Bible they admire. That's a limited selection of names. But one name they never choose is Peter. It would be an insult to take the name of the first pope who was chosen by Jesus himself. Remember the famous line from Matthew 16, and I tell you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. No pope would elevate himself to Peter. It's just not done. So don't hold your breath for a Peter the Roman. There are some eerie coincidences though. John XXIII really was the Patriarch of Venice. Paul VI really did have fleur de lis on his crest. My favorite are the eclipses. They really did happen on the dates of John Paul II's birth and funeral. But there's an eclipse somewhere on the Earth every 18 months. The thing is, an eclipse is not visible from everywhere on earth. And the eclipses that are connected to Pope John Paul were invisible from where he was. Speaking of Pope John Paul II, the Vatican interpreted the third secret of Fatima as the violence of the 20th century and the wounded pope as John Paul II, who survived being shot in 1981. The vision is real. The children reported it and the Vatican published a text. But it's not connected to the prophecy at all. And the two popes theory? Well, that's been rejected and debunked. Benedict was alive, he rejected it, and the theory outlived him anyway. So if the prophecy wasn't a prophecy, then what was it? Probably election propaganda. Remember in 1958, Francis Spellman portrayed himself as a shepherd and a sailor to fit the prophecy. He wasn't the first to try to manipulate an election. The prophecy was probably a forgery created by Cardinal Gelamo Simoncelli during the election of 1590. The next motto on the list reads from the old city. Simoncelli's hometown was Orieto in Latin, the old city. So he forges a prophecy and gets an endorsement from the World's leading papal scholar, Alfonso Chacon. Now, maybe CICOM was in on it, maybe not. That's still debated. But it doesn't matter. Simon Jelly lost.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

He rigged the system and still lost it. Sounds like Hillary.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Oh, you know the rules.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Right, right, right. We don't joke about the Clinton. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Go ahead.

[AJ Hecklefish]

The prophecy of the Popes has been failing for years. And every time it does, the prophecy gets an update to make it fit. The more interesting question is why? Why are we so fascinated with the end of the world? I am. I love a disaster movie. Anything post apocalypse, I'm in. Why? What's my problem? While different cultures will have different reasons for the end of the world, religious cultures will have something like a final judgment, a cleansing catastrophe, a savior returning at the climax of history. More secular cultures use the same pattern. They just change the vocabulary. Nuclear Armageddon, super plague, AI takeover. Climate, apocalypse.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Those are all possible.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Yeah, but.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Except the climate thing.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Look, the climate is changing.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

You go live in a party and eat the bugs. If you need me, I'll beat a Sizzler in Florida eating a bone in ribeye and ignoring Bill Gates.

[AJ Hecklefish]

But the one thing all humans have in common is that we're unique in that we know for 100% certainty that we're going to die one day. We just don't know when or how. So even the most brave, stoic, peaceful person has this deep existential dread. We all have it. It's natural to worry. But we'd rather go out as part of some cosmic drama, not an accident or illness or some random event. We can't control how many days we have left, but we can control what we do with those days. So treat tomorrow like it exists. Learn something. Love someone. Do something that matters. Build something that lasts. Don't focus on your death. Just focus on doing everything you can so that when it gets here, you don't have a single regret. Thank you so much for hanging out with me today. My name is AJ That's Hecklefish.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

My motto is Tomayo Cancrettis VI the

[AJ Hecklefish]

Cricket this has been the White Files. If you had fun or learned anything, he'd appreciate it. If you could, like, subscribe, comment, share. I know I'm a broken record, but that stuff really helps the channel. And like most topics we cover on the channel, today's is recommended by you, a lot of you. And thank you for this one. This was a fun one. If there's a story you'd like to hear or learn more about go to the wildfiles.com tips. Reach us on YouTube. Send an email. You can find us. Send in your ideas. We're always looking for those. And if you enjoy these stories, check out my other show on the channel. It's called the Basement. It's a conversation show where I chat with the interesting people behind the episodes. Some of them you know, some you don't. But they're all people I find fascinating, and I think you will too. Experts on fun topics like the moon landing hoax, the JFK conspiracy, the DMT laser code, all kinds of random stuff. And if there's someone you'd like to see on the show, let us know. We're on the hunt for good guests. Remember, the Wi Fi is also a podcast. You can take us on the road. I upload at least twice a week. Episodes. Campfire stories, interviews. It's called the Y Files Operation Podcast. It's available everywhere you get your podcasts. While I've got your ear, check out our 24.7stream of the Wi Fi backstage over there. We run episodes back to back with some fun content in between. And the live chat is more entertaining than the videos. It's a great community over there. I think you'd enjoy it. Special thanks to our patrons who make this channel possible. Every episode of the Wild Wild is dedicated to my Patreon members. Couldn't do this without your support. And if you'd like to support the channel, keep us going. Join this community. Become a member on Patreon for as little as three bucks a month. Get access to perks like seeing videos early with no commercials, exclusive merch, and two private live streams every week, all just for you. The whole W team is on the stream and you're welcome to turn on your camera, ask a question, talk about anything you like. Another great way to support the channel is grab something for the WI Fi store.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Go grab a heck of a shirt. Get a physical glove you like they stick your apocalyptic mug in or whatever you're sticking here. Since we're in here in the end of days, every all the merch is it's limited edition so all prices are double. Oh, grab a hoodie, hoodie squeezy. Oh look how we do. Grab a squeezy Animal toy. Take a little B toy for the apocalypse toy.

[AJ Hecklefish]

But if you're going to buy merch, make sure you become a member on YouTube. YouTube members get 10% off everything in the Wildflower store forever. And it's only three bucks. So if you're going to spend $40 on vistable coffee mugs. If you know, you know. Or T shirts. Become a member. It pays for itself and then just cancel. The coupon code is there to save you money, not make me money. Besides, all that revenue goes to the team.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

I don't touch it. Yeah, keep that secret close to your gills out of your cheek.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Those are the plugs. And that's going to do it. My throat is sore from all the takes trying to pronounce Latin. I hope it was worth it. Until next time, be safe, be kind and know that you are appreciated.

[Guest/Additional Voice]

I was. I love my UFOs and paranormal fun as well as music so I'm singing like I should but then another conspiracy theory becomes the truth, my friends and it never ends no, it never ends. I feel the crap cat I got stuck inside mel's home with mk ultra of being only 2 aware did Stanley Kubrick fake the moon landing alone on a film set or were the shadow people there? The Roswell aliens just fought the smiling man and I'm told and his name was cold and I can't believe I'm dancing with the fishes Handle fish on Thursday nights with AJ And W W. Time. The Mothman sightings and the solar stone still come to Agatha the secret city underground mysterious Number stations Planet Surf 02 Project Stargate and what the dark watchers found in a simulation don't you worry though the Black knight satellite it show me so I can't believe I'm dancing with the fish head we'll fish on Thursday nights When they chase you and the weapons through the night all. Through the night. All I ever wanted was to just hear the truth. Because she is a camel and camels love dance. When the feeling is right. Always in time.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Close your eyes.

[Co-host/Sidekick]

Exhale. Feel your body relax and let go of whatever you're carrying.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts. Oh my gosh, they're so fast. And breathe. Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste. Visit 1-800-contacts.com today to save on your first order. 1-800-contacts. Grainger knows. When you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail. Filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24.

[Guest/Additional Voice]

7 support.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.

[Guest/Additional Voice]

Evening.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Buyer's remorse. Buy a new car. I'll be moving in. Let's get started. Sorry, I think there's been a mistake. I bought it from Carvana.

[Guest/Additional Voice]

You what?

[AJ Hecklefish]

Yeah, Great price. I even have seven days to love it or return it. So there's no.

[Guest/Additional Voice]

No, no.

[AJ Hecklefish]

Buyer's remorse. More like buyers rejoice. I guess I'll let myself out.

[Guest/Additional Voice]

Congratulations.

[AJ Hecklefish]

I mean it. Buyers rejoice. Buy your car today. On Carvana. Limitations and exclusions may apply. See our seven day return [e-mail].