The Prophecy of the Popes: The Secret List That Predicted the End Times episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 30, 2026 · 56 MIN

The Prophecy of the Popes: The Secret List That Predicted the End Times

from Unexplained History · host Tom McKenzie

A secret list of 112 popes. A mysterious manuscript that surfaced during a papal conclave in 1590. A final prophecy warning that Peter the Roman would rule during the destruction of Rome.For centuries, the so-called Prophecy of the Popes has fascinated believers, skeptics, Catholic scholars, conspiracy theorists, and end-times watchers. Attributed to the Irish saint Malachy, the list appears to predict every pope from the 12th century to the apocalypse — with eerie accuracy before 1590, and suspiciously vague language afterward.In this episode of Unexplained History, we investigate the origins of the prophecy, the political chaos of Renaissance papal elections, the role of forged religious manuscripts, the mystery of Saint Malachy, and why scholars believe the document was likely created to influence a conclave.We also follow the prophecy into the modern era, from Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis to Pope Leo XIV, as believers continue searching for the final pope: Peter the Roman.Was the Prophecy of the Popes a divine warning, a brilliant forgery, or one of history’s most durable apocalyptic myths?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/unexplained-history--6429156/support.🎧 Unexplained History explores the myths, mysteries, and misunderstood moments that shaped our world. Hosted by Tom Mackenzie and Don Masterson. New episodes every week.Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen — and uncover the stories history tried to forget.More at The Unexplained CompanyHistory, Mystery, True Crime, Conspiracy, Paranormal, CIA, Cold War, Ancient Aliens, Archaeology, Unsolved, Supernatural, Tom McKenzie, Audio Drama, Storytelling, Documentaries.This episode includes AI-generated content.

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