The below is taken from www.biblicalperspectives.com
What are we to make of Malachy's papal prophecies? It would be a serious mistake to attribute to them canonical authority similar to biblical
prophecies. First, because their origin is dubious and second, because some of them are inaccurate. Furthermore, the overall intent of these
prophecies is to promote the authority of the pope as the religious leader of mankind. Such an authority is negated by Scripture and can only lead to
an idolatrous form of worship, as evident in the Catholic Church.
What makes Malachy's papal prophecies unusual is the fact that they do not reflect the Catholic view of the End, though they were allegedly written
by a canonized Catholic saint. The traditional Catholic view of the End, was formulated in all essentials in the fifth century by Augustine, and it
has remained unchallenged to our day. Augustine's view of the End is closely associated with the modern idea of historical progress. Simply stated,
the Kingdom of God will be established on this earth, not by the coming of Christ to establish a new order, but by the gradual improvement of the
world under the leadership of the Catholic church.
By contrast, Malachy's prophetic scenario does not allow for the gradual establishment of the Kingdom of God on this earth under the leadership of
the Catholic Church. Instead, the Pope of Peace #111, is followed immediately by Peter the Roman, who will labor to enhance the supremacy of the
Roman Catholic Church. The reign of this last pope is suddenly terminated by the destruction of the final judgement.
This apocalyptic scenario contradicts the traditional Catholic view of the End. This explains why some Catholic leaders are warning their members
against accepting Malachy's view of the End of the world. For example, in an article entitled "The Papal Prophecies of Saint Malachy of Ireland: Can
we really believe them?" Sean Hyland warns Catholics not to misinterpret prophecy by "starting to think that the end of the world is just around
the corner. Not only is this extremely unwise, and cautioned against by Christ Himself, but the unanimous testimony of centuries of Catholic saints
would appear to indicate an era of peace which is yet to come before the end of the world"
(
www.angelfire.com...).
Understandably, the Catholic Church repudiates Malachy's last papal prophecy, because she likes to believe in a glorious future during which the
papacy will lead the world to an age of peace and prosperity. But the biblical vision of the End is radically different. Peace and prosperity are
established, not by the Catholic Church before Christ's Coming, but by Christ Himself at His Coming.
Summing up, according to Malachy's papal prophecies, the next pope will be the last pope before the destruction of the final judgement that will
occur during the pontificate of Peter Romanus. The origin of Malachy's papal prophecies is dubious and its authority questionable. Yet, their endtime
scenario resembles to some extent that of the book of Revelation. Could it be that the Lord is using these prophecies to warn people about the
impending Day of Judgement? Some of the comments of those who study these prophecies suggest a positive answer.
For example, in his book The Prophecies of Malachy, (TAN Books and Publisher, 1969), Peter Bander states: "What disturbs me and should disturb the
reader to an equal degree is that after 'Flower of Flowers,' that is to say after Paul VI, there are only three more prophecies. Whoever he turns
out to be, Petrus Romanus will be the last. Time is running out. It's later than we all think. The end of the world is at hand."
This is an important message that the world needs to hear. Providentially the Lord may be using Malachy's prophecies on the last popes to predispose
people to accept the message of a soon-coming Savior.