The patriarch of the Catholic church has passed away at the age of 88. The Vatican News reported that Pope Francis died at 7:35 a.m. local time (1:35 a.m. EST). Earlier this year, he experienced a severe health crisis that resulted in over a month of hospitalization due to double pneumonia.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of the 266th pope via this statement:

“Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God.”

Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14, 2025, for a respiratory crisis that developed into double pneumonia. He spent 38 days there, the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy, according to a report by The Associated Press.

The death of Pope Francis also reignited debates about a 900-year-old enigmatic text known as the Prophecy of the Popes. Attributed to the Irish archbishop St. Malachy, the document, supposedly written in 1139, lists 112 popes who would “lead” the Catholic Church until the end of times.

According to interpretations of Malachy’s prophecy, the final pope, named “Peter the Roman,” would guide the Church through great tribulations, culminating in the destruction of the “city of seven hills”(a reference to Rome) and the final judgment. Discovered in 1595 by Benedictine monk Arnold Wion in the Vatican archives, the prophecy returned to the spotlight after Francis’ death, with speculation that the next pope could be the last or that Francis himself marked the end of the Roman Church. While some see apocalyptic signs in global events like wars and international tensions, others question the text’s authenticity, pointing to possible political manipulations in the 16th century.

According to the prophecy, Pope Benedict XVI was identified as the “Glory of the Olive,” and some interpretations suggest this is related to his pontifical name, “Benedict,” and the Olivetans. The prophecy also suggests that the end of the Catholic Church or the world would occur 442 years after 1585, pointing to 2027.

What do you think? Do you put any stake in prophecies?