Following the death of Pope Francis at 88 on April 21, a centuries-old prophecy has resurfaced online, claiming he was the last pope.

The prophecy, known as The Prophecy of the Popes, was published in 1595 by Benedictine monk Arnold de Wyon and attributed to Irish Saint Malachy. It lists 112 cryptic phrases said to predict every pope from Celestine II (elected in 1143) onward.

Pope Francis, elected in 2013, is considered the 112th on the list. A passage referring to the final pope as “Peter the Roman” suggests he would lead during tribulations before the destruction of “the city of seven hills” (interpreted as Rome) and final judgement — a potential reference to the end of days.

While some conspiracy theorists now believe no new pope will be chosen, others expect a new pontiff, though not predicted by the prophecy.

However, church historian Fr. James Weiss called the prophecy a forgery, arguing that most predictions after 1590 are inconsistent and exaggerated.

Still, the Vatican is preparing for the conclave to elect the next pope. Leading contenders include Pietro Parolin, Peter Erdo, and Pierbattista Pizzaballa. As tradition dictates, white smoke from the Sistine Chapel will signal when a new pope has been chosen.