Evidence: 2 (Likely a forgery)
| Claim | Detail |
|---|---|
| What | A list of 112 cryptic Latin phrases, each describing a future pope from Celestine II (1143) to the end of the papacy |
| Attributed to | St. Malachy of Armagh (1094-1148) |
| Published | 1595 by Arnold Wion — 450 years after Malachy’s death. No earlier manuscript exists |
| Scholarly consensus | Likely forged in the 1590s to influence a papal conclave. Descriptions before 1590 are suspiciously accurate; after 1590, vague |
| Current status | Some count Pope Leo XIV (2025) as #112 or near the end of the list. Interpretations vary wildly |
| Catholic Church position | Not endorsed. Private revelation, not required belief |