288    The Bible and the Future of the World 

peace among nations and will  fail to achieve that peace. Then, about the 

time of the end of his pontificate, World War III will begin. 

The next pope on Saint Malachy's list is the last on the list.  Some persons 

have claimed that this pope will be the last pope ever, but that is not at all 

true. He is merely the last on the list, not the last pope ever. This pope was 

not given a phrase, but a paragraph, describing him: 

 In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there shall reign Peter 

the Roman who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the 

seven hilled city will be destroyed and the terrible judge  will judge the 

people.  

This paragraph seems to indicate the end of the world, but in fact it only 

means that, at that time, the events described in the Book of Revelation will 

begin. These events lead, eventually after a long time and after many 

different prophecies are fulfilled, to the end. 

The paragraph about this pope means that, during or immediately after his 

pontificate, Rome and Vatican City will be destroyed. And after that a long 

series of afflictions are sent upon the world as punishment for sin... but this 

is not the time of the end of the world. 

After these many sufferings have ended, a time of relative peace and 

holiness is granted to the Church and the world. At that time, the pope will 

be  very holy, a true saint and able to work miracles through prayer. He is 

often called  the Angelic Shepherd  in Catholic eschatology. 

A good summary of Catholic thought about the future, including St. 

Malachy's  prophetic list of popes and some material about the Angelic 

Shepherd, can be found in the book, Prophecy for Today by Edward Connor 

(TAN books). 

World War III 

Much can be said about World War III.  World War III is preceded by a 

small, brief war among the Arab nations.  Iran and Iraq will join together 

and will each be led by extremist leaders.  Extremist Arab leaders will fight 

against more moderate leaders and the extremist leaders will win. Iran and 

Iraq will use war and insurrection  to defeat moderate leaders in other 

countries. This small war will occur in A.D. 2009.