111 or 112 Popes?
So assuming the last pope will be the False Prophet, let's delve into whether Pope Benedict XVI is the last pope. Whether the new "pope #111" in Malachy's prophecy of future popes is the False Prophet depends on which version of Malachy's prophecy is correct (if any). The first version of Malachy's prophecy of the remaining popes included only 111. However, a later release had an additional pope to make 112. If there is yet one more, it would be conceivable for Ratzinger, aged 78, to be a short-lived transitional pope prior to the final False Prophet pope (in fact, he himself pronounced a short papacy at hearing of his election, and his brother bemoaned the effect it would have on his health). Under this scenario he would only live a few years in time for a new pope to take his place right before the Great Tribulation starts.
Indeed, other Catholic prophecies (like Conchita of Garabandal *) say the pope after John Paul II will be the last before the End Times or "end of the time, but not the end of the world". I see this in agreement with Malachy's list because the list does not say we have 10 or 20 more popes. Instead it provides another witness saying we are at the cusp of the Great Tribulation once we get past one more pope. At most one more pope left would indicate we are just a couple of years-not, say, 10 or 100-from big prophetic events beginning. Again, according to the Garabandal prophecies, a great worldwide harmless but frightening "Warning" followed by a diastrous "Chastisement" will come once the final pope before the "end of time" has passed...our Benedict XVI.
But is there any evidence from the Bible to help us know if Pope Benedict XVI is the False Prophet? Unfortunately, the Bible itself just does not give much identifying information for the False Prophet (as opposed to the Antichrist, who the Bible has more details identifying him as Prince Charles than there is for you to identify who you are). Nevertheless, the description it does provide about the False Prophet is enough to conclude that it will likely be a pope.
