Is Pope Leo XIV Peter The Roman?

Peter the Roman, according to some references from St. Malachy’s prophecy, is supposedly the very last pope. He is the one foretold to shepherd his flock amidst many tribulations. Is Pope Leo XIV the one who will finally fulfill this prophecy of the popes?

Although often questioned regarding its origin and authenticity, the prophecy attributed to St. Malachy has survived through the years. It has often been used in many works of fiction, especially those related to the end times. Up to this date, however, the Catholic Church has issued no official stand about the prophecy that lists the number of popes up to the very end. Perhaps this is one reason why there is still much speculation even today about the last pope.

Here is the prophecy in Latin about Petrus Romanus:

In persecutione extrema S.R.E. sedebit. Petrus Romanus, qui pascet oves in multis tribulationibus, quibus transactis civitas septicollis diruetur, & judex tremendus judicabit populum suum. Finis.

Following is an English translation:

In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit [i.e., as bishop]. Peter the Roman, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations, and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills [i.e. Rome] will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge[a] will judge his people. The End.

If we try to count the number of popes in the prophecy, Pope Benedict XVI should have been the pope before the last one. However, because of his resignation, it is possible that instead of Pope Francis, the one foretold would be the next one. Hence, the pope after him, who is now Pope Leo XIV could be who the prophecy calls Peter the Roman.

The prophecy itself leaves some doubt for readers because it seems to have a separate sentence before the statement about Peter the Roman. Hence, some even infer that this means there could be one or more popes in between.

Could this be Pope Francis who became pope after Pope Benedict XVI? Was this the reason the prophecy has been stated this way?

So far, the number of popes points to Pope Leo XVI as the very last one.

Another interesting fact is that during his installation as bishop of Rome, the pope himself stated the following:

“Today I can say that for you and with you I am Roman!”

While it is not an unusual thought, and every pope is indeed a bishop of Rome, the fact that Pope Leo XVI had to emphasize and state the obvious is something I can’t help but think about. Was it just a coincidence? Or is it a prophetic confirmation of his role as Petrus Romanus, the pope who will comfort his sheep in many tribulations?

What Pope Leo XIV said about being Roman actually came from his earlier statement after his inauguration when he said:

“I am an Augustinian, a son of Saint Augustine, who once said, ‘With you I am a Christian, and for you I am a bishop.’ In this sense, all of us can journey together toward the homeland that God has prepared for us.” (First Blessing “Urbi et Orbi” of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV)

Here is the quote from St. Augustine:

“What I am for you terrifies me; what I am with you consoles me. For you I am a bishop; but with you I am a Christian. The former is a duty; the latter a grace. The former is a danger; the latter, salvation.”

Was it also a coincidence that our pope today would be an Augustinian for him to say those words?

When Pope Leo XIV received the Ring of the Fisherman, a symbol of the holy mission handed down from Peter, the very first pope, people observed his emotional reaction. The pope clearly recognized the weight of his responsibility, especially during this crucial time.

In the end, it is only God who knows the future. Prophecies are told to warn us, prepare us and even change us.

When Jonah preached an impending punishment to the people of Nineveh, the people declared a fast, put on sackcloth and repented from their sins. As a result, God did not send the disaster coming their way.

Could Pope Leo XVI be Peter the Roman, the very last pope? Or could there indeed be more than one pope in between Pope Benedict XVI and Petrus Romanus?

Let us heed God’s voice today and seek Him while we still have time.

“‘Who knows? God may again repent and turn from his blazing wrath, so that we will not perish.’ When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.” – Jonah 3:9-10 NABRE

Jocelyn Soriano is the author of the book “What Should You Look Forward To In Heaven?”