“Crowd mourning Pope Francis’ death in St. Peter’s Square, 2025.”
On April 21, 2025, the world woke up to shocking news: Pope Francis, the 266th pope of the Catholic Church, passed away after a battle with severe pneumonia. The 88-year-old pontiff, who had been hospitalized since February 14, left behind a legacy of compassion and reform—but his death has ignited a firestorm of speculation around ancient prophecies. For centuries, seers like Saint Malachy and Baba Vanga have warned of a cataclysmic event tied to the death of a pope: the destruction of the “seven-hilled city” and the arrival of a “final judgment.” As whispers of these predictions flood social media, the world is left wondering: is this the beginning of the end? At NovexaHub, we’re diving deep into this chilling story in our haber category, exploring the prophecies, the history, and what might come next. Buckle up—this is a tale straight out of legend.
A Pope’s Passing Shakes the World
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was a beloved figure, known for his humility and progressive stance on issues like climate change and social justice. His death came after months of health struggles, with the Vatican confirming he succumbed to complications from pneumonia. The announcement sent shockwaves through the Catholic community, with millions mourning the loss of a leader who had guided the Church since 2013. Tributes poured in from world leaders, with U.S. President Kamala Harris calling him “a beacon of hope in turbulent times.” But as the world grieved, a darker narrative began to emerge—one rooted in centuries-old predictions that tie the death of a pope to the end of days. On X, posts exploded with speculation, with users asking, “Is this the moment the prophecies warned us about?” The timing of Francis’ death has reignited ancient fears, and two names are on everyone’s lips: Saint Malachy and Baba Vanga.
The 900-Year-Old Prophecy of Saint Malachy
Saint Malachy, a 12th-century Irish archbishop, is said to have penned the “Prophecy of the Popes,” a series of 112 cryptic Latin phrases describing every pope from 1143 onward. Published in 1595 by Benedictine monk Arnold Wion, the prophecy has been a source of fascination and fear for centuries. Its final prediction is the most chilling: “In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed, and the dreadful Judge will judge the people.” Many scholars believe the “seven-hilled city” refers to Rome, a city famously built on seven hills. But others point to Istanbul, another seven-hilled city and the former heart of the Eastern Roman Empire, as a possible target of this apocalyptic vision.
When Pope Francis was elected in 2013, some commentators linked him to “Peter the Roman” due to his Italian heritage and the symbolic nature of his name. Now, with his death in 2025, the prophecy feels eerily relevant. Historians note that Malachy’s predictions have been uncannily accurate for popes up to the 16th century, though skeptics argue the text may have been a later fabrication. Still, the idea of a “final pope” followed by the destruction of a great city has sparked intense debate. On X, one user wrote, “If Malachy is right, what happens now? Is Rome—or Istanbul—doomed?” The uncertainty has only fueled the global fascination with this ancient warning.
Baba Vanga’s Haunting Visions: A Modern Seer Weighs In
Enter Baba Vanga, the Bulgarian mystic often called the “Nostradamus of the Balkans.” Born in 1911 and blind since childhood, Vanga gained fame for her alleged predictions, from the 9/11 attacks to the rise of ISIS. Before her death in 1996, she reportedly spoke of a time when “a great leader of the Church would fall, and chaos would follow.” Some of her followers believe this refers to Pope Francis’ death in 2025, especially since she also warned of a “great city” facing destruction around this time. Vanga’s visions often focused on natural disasters and global upheaval, and in recent years, her predictions of earthquakes and economic crises have seemed to align with real-world events—like the 7.7 and 6.4 magnitude earthquakes in Myanmar earlier this year.
What makes Vanga’s involvement in this story so compelling is her track record. She reportedly foresaw her own death and spoke of a “final reckoning” in the mid-2020s, a time she called “the beginning of the end.” Her followers on X are connecting the dots, with one user posting, “Baba Vanga said a pope’s death would trigger chaos—look around, it’s happening!” While Vanga’s predictions are often vague and open to interpretation, the timing of Pope Francis’ passing has given her words a haunting resonance. Could her vision of a “great city” facing ruin tie into Malachy’s prophecy of the seven-hilled city? The overlap is too striking to ignore.
The Seven-Hilled City: Rome, Istanbul, or Something More?
The phrase “seven-hilled city” is at the heart of these prophecies, but its meaning is hotly debated. Rome, the seat of the Catholic Church, is the most obvious candidate. Built on seven hills—Aventine, Caelian, Capitoline, Esquiline, Palatine, Quirinal, and Viminal—the Eternal City has long been a symbol of Western civilization. But Istanbul, once known as Constantinople, also sits on seven hills and was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. Some Turkish scholars argue that Malachy’s prophecy might point to Istanbul, especially given its history as a crossroads of cultures and religions. Adding fuel to this theory, Istanbul sits on a major fault line, and fears of a “big one”—a massive earthquake—have loomed for years.
There’s a third interpretation, rooted in biblical symbolism. In the Book of Revelation, the “seven-hilled city” is often linked to “Babylon the Great,” a metaphorical city representing corruption and false religion. Some theologians believe Malachy’s prophecy might not refer to a literal city but to the fall of a corrupt system, with the “dreadful Judge” signaling divine judgment. This spiritual angle has gained traction among evangelical groups, who see Francis’ death as a sign of impending rapture. The uncertainty only deepens the mystery: will a physical city fall, or is this a metaphor for a larger collapse?
Global Reactions: Fear, Faith, and Speculation
The death of Pope Francis has unleashed a wave of reactions, from mourning to outright panic. In Rome, thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square to pray for the late pope, while the Vatican prepares for the conclave to elect a new leader. But the shadow of the prophecies looms large. Italian media outlets are running headlines like “The End of Rome?” while Turkish news channels speculate about a catastrophic earthquake in Istanbul. On X, the hashtag #SevenHilledCity has exploded, with users sharing everything from historical analyses to doomsday memes. One user wrote, “First the pope dies, now everyone’s talking about the end of the world—I need a drink!”
Religious leaders are urging calm. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, a leading candidate to succeed Francis, issued a statement saying, “We must focus on faith, not fear.” But not everyone is convinced. Some evangelical pastors in the U.S. are preaching that the “end times” are near, citing Malachy and Vanga alongside biblical passages. Meanwhile, scientists are weighing in on the practical risks, particularly for Istanbul. Seismologists warn that a major earthquake is statistically likely within the next decade, though they dismiss the idea of a prophecy-driven disaster. The mix of spirituality, science, and social media buzz has created a perfect storm of intrigue.
What Happens Next?
As the Vatican prepares to elect a new pope, the world watches with bated breath. Will the next pontiff be the “Peter the Roman” of Malachy’s prophecy? And what of the “seven-hilled city”? Some believe the prophecies point to a literal destruction—perhaps an earthquake in Rome or Istanbul. Others see a metaphorical fall, like the decline of the Catholic Church’s influence or a broader societal collapse. Baba Vanga’s warnings of global chaos in the 2020s add another layer of unease, especially with her predictions of economic crises and conflicts in Europe already seeming to unfold.
For now, the future remains uncertain. The death of Pope Francis has opened a Pandora’s box of questions, blending ancient mysticism with modern fears. Whether you believe in prophecies or not, one thing is clear: this moment has captured the world’s imagination. Share your thoughts on X—are we witnessing the fulfillment of a centuries-old warning, or is this just history repeating itself? Stay tuned to NovexaHub’s haber category for more updates on this unfolding story. The world may never be the same.
