|
WE WOO WE WOO WE WOO WE WOO WE WOO
The '''Prophecy of the Popes''' according to [[Saint Malachy]] is a list of 112 short [[Latin (language)|Latin]] phrases purported to describe each of the [[Roman Catholic]] [[pope]]s (along with a few [[antipope]]s), beginning with [[Pope Celestine II]] (elected in [[1143]]) and concluding with a future pope described in the [[prophecy]] as "Peter the Roman," whose pontificate will end in the destruction of the city of [[Rome]] and the [[Last Judgement]].
== Provenance ==
The prophecy was first published in [[1595]] by Arnold de Wyon, a [[Benedictine]] historian, as part of his book ''Lignum Vitæ''. Wyon attributed the list to [[Saint Malachy]], a 12-century bishop of [[Armagh]] in [[Ireland]]. According to the traditional account, in [[1139]], Malachy was summoned to [[Rome]] by [[Pope Innocent II]]. While there, he purportedly experienced a vision of future popes, which he recorded as a sequence of cryptic Latin phrases. This manuscript was then deposited in the Roman Archive, and thereafter forgotten about until rediscovered in [[1590]].
On the other hand, [[Bernard of Clairvaux]]'s biography of [[Saint Malachy|Malachy]] makes no mention of the prophecy, nor is it mentioned in any record prior to its [[1595]] publication. This has led to the theory that they are a late [[16th century]] [[forgery]]. Some have suggested they were created by [[Nostradamus]] and credited to [[Saint Malachy]] so the purported seer would not be blamed for the destruction of the papacy.
== Skepticism and authenticity ==
Those who doubt the prophecy's authenticity claim that the prophecy's [[motto]]s fit the earlier popes much better than they do those popes elected after the document's first publication, and that whatever similarities exist between the later popes and their mottos are a product of coincidence and the mottos' vagueness; that is to say, the later prophecies are susceptible to a [[confirmation bias]]. For example, the motto ''De labore Solis'', associated with [[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]], can be an example of statistically likely [[postdiction]], as an [[eclipse]] occurs twice or more times in a single year. Since there is no rule stating which event should coincide with the eclipse the odds of a "hit" are high. Using the date of funeral and not his date of death (which lacked any notable solar activity) is suspect and evidence of [[postdiction]], as the date would otherwise be considered insignificant in the prophecy if it did not already fit the assumed interpretation. Ultimately, the rarity or high frequency of whatever type of eclipse is irrelevant, since the date chosen would have no significance if it did not already fit the assumed interpretation.
When Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger chose the name [[Pope Benedict XVI|Benedict XVI]], this was seen as fulfilling the prophecy for this pope (Gloria Olivae). However, prior to the [[2005 papal election|Papal conclave, 2005]], there were numerous speculations in the media as to what could be considered as "fulfilment of the prophecy".
It was said that any pope named Benedict (since [[Benedictine|Benedictines]] are known as [[Olivetans]]), or any pope from the Benedictine Order, or any Latin American pope (with olive complexion), or any black pope (coinciding with St. Benedict the Black), or any pope with links to Judaism would also fulfill the prophecy, thus giving a very broad array of possibilities.
Also, the choice of the name Benedict for the current pope, while interesting for those who predicted the choice of the name, was not statistically unlikely. The papal names are generally chosen from a fairly limited, traditionally closed list of names and 6% of past popes chose Benedict as their papal name. The only more popular papal name, John, has been chosen by 8% of popes. The media has commented on [[Pope Benedict XVI]]'s choice of name, stating that [[Pope Benedict XVI]] seeks to emulate [[Pope Benedict XV]]'s legacy of diplomacy and theological conservatism. Ultimately, however, the vagueness of the "Glory of the Olive" prophetic phrase makes [[postdiction]] a requirement now that we know the current pope has nothing to do with any of the previously suggested ideas.
The last entry about Petrus Romanus seems to have appeared sometime after [[1820]] and thus may not be part of the original prophecy. Obviously this calls into question the accuracy of the last motto. Consider also that the prophecy has been public knowledge since [[1590]]. As such, it is easy to make a purposeful effort to fulfill that prophecy by electing someone who matches the prophecy well, or to cause an event that helps the pope match the prophecy. It is possible (although unlikely) [[Pope Benedict XVI|Cardinal Ratzinger]] picked the name Benedict deliberately to fulfill the prophecy.
== Interpretation ==
Interpretation of the mottos has generally relied on finding correspondences between the mottos and the popes' birthplaces, their [[heraldry|personal arms]], and the events of their pontificates. For example, the first motto, ''Ex castro Tiberis'' (From a castle on the Tiber), fits [[Pope Celestine II]]'s birthplace in [[Città di Castello]], on the [[Tiber]]. [[Pope Clement XIII]], whose used a rose as his personal emblem, is called in the prophecy ''Rosa Umbriae'', the rose of [[Umbria]].
In recent times, some interpreters of prophetic literature have drawn attention to the prophecies, both because of their success in finding correspondences between the prophecies and recent popes, and because of the prophecies' imminent conclusion. Interpretations made before the elections of recent Popes have turned out not to accurately predict their papacies. ([[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]] was assumed to be predicted to be named [[Pope Gregory|Gregory]] by the ''People's Almanac'' in [[1975]].)
The '''Prophecy of the Popes''' according to [[Saint Malachy]] is a list of 112 short [[Latin (language)|Latin]] phrases purported to describe each of the [[Roman Catholic]] [[pope]]s (along with a few [[antipope]]s), beginning with [[Pope Celestine II]] (elected in [[1143]]) and concluding with a future pope described in the [[prophecy]] as "Peter the Roman", whose pontificate will end in the destruction of the city of [[Rome]] and the [[Last Judgment]].
== Popes and corresponding mottos ==
'''The Prophecies of St Malachy'''
{|
!Pope No. !!Name (Reign) !!Motto (''Translation'') !!Historical Reference and Explanation
|-
|167 ||'''[[Pope Celestine II|Celestine II]]''' ([[1143]]-[[1144]]) ||1 Ex castro Tyberis (''From a castle on the Tiber'')||Hist.: Born in [[Città di Castello]], [[Tuscany]], on the shores of the [[Tiber]]
|-
|168 ||'''[[Pope Lucius II|Lucius II]]''' ([[1144]]-[[1145]]) ||2 Inimicus expulsus (''Enemy Expelled'')|| Gheraldo Cassianemici, of Bologna.Noble whose surname signifies expels enemies.and complied with currency and surname, inasmuch as with armor and shield of leather took the Capitol of Rome, but was injured of death in it takes of the Senate, for which died in the monastery of San Gregorio, out of Rome. Enemy expelled, by their own parishioners, in defiance with the Papacy, and supported by the normandos that occupied the south of Italy.
|-
|169 ||'''[[Pope Eugenius III|Eugenius III]]''' ([[1145]]-[[1153]]) ||3 Ex magnitudine montis (''Of the greatness of the mount'')||Born in the castle of [[Grammont]] ([[latin]]: mons magnus), his family name was Montemagno
|-
|170 ||'''[[Pope Anastasius IV|Anastasius IV]]''' ([[1153]]-[[1154]]) ||4 Abbas Suburranus (''A Suburran Abbott'')||
|-
|171 ||'''[[Pope Adrian IV|Adrian IV]]''' ([[1154]]-[[1159]]) ||5 De rure albo (''Field of Albe'')||Educated in the [[St Albans School]]
|-
| ||[[Antipope Victor IV (1159-1164)|Antipope Victor IV]] ([[1159]]-[[1164]]) ||6 Ex tetro carcere (''Out of a harsh prison'')||
|-
| ||[[Antipope Paschal III]] ([[1164]]-[[1168]]) ||7 Via trans-Tyberina (''Road beyond the Tiber'')||
|-
| ||[[Antipope Calistus III]] ([[1168]]-[[1178]]) ||8 De Pannonia Tusciae (''From Tuscian Hungary'')||
|-
|172 ||'''[[Pope Alexander III|Alexander III]]''' ([[1159]]-[[1181]]) ||9 Ex ansere custode (''Out of the custodian goose'')||
|-
|173 ||'''[[Pope Lucius III|Lucius III]]''' ([[1181]]-[[1185]]) ||10 Lux in ostio (''A light in the gate'')||
|-
|174 ||'''[[Pope Urban III|Urban III]]''' ([[1185]]-[[1187]]) ||11 Sus in cribo (''A sow in a sieve'')||
|-
|175 ||'''[[Pope Gregory VIII|Gregory VIII]]''' ([[1187]]) ||12 Ensis Laurentii (''The sword of Larence'')||
|-
|176 ||'''[[Pope Clement III|Clement III]]''' ([[1187]]-[[1191]]) ||13 De schola exiet (''Coming out of school'')||
|-
|177 ||'''[[Pope Celestine III|Celestine III]]''' ([[1191]]-[[1198]]) ||14 De rure bovensi (''From cattle country'')||
|-
|178 ||'''[[Pope Innocent III|Innocent III]]''' ([[1198]]-[[1216]]) ||15 Comes signatus (''Signed Count'')|| Descendant of the noble Signy, later called Segni family
|-
|179 ||'''[[Pope Honorius III|Honorius III]]''' ([[1216]]-[[1227]]) ||16 Canonicus de latere (''A canon from the side'')
|-
|180 ||'''[[Pope Gregory IX|Gregory IX]]''' ([[1227]]-[[1241]]) ||17 Avis Ostiensis (''Bird of Ostia'') || Before his election he was Cardinal of [[Ostia]]
|-
|181 ||'''[[Pope Celestine IV|Celestine IV]]''' ([[1241]]) ||18 Leo Sabinus (''The Sabine lion'')
|-
|182 ||'''[[Pope Innocent IV|Innocent IV]]''' ([[1243]]-[[1254]]) ||19 Comes Laurentius (''Count Lawrence'')
|-
|183 ||'''[[Pope Alexander IV|Alexander IV]]''' ([[1254]]-[[1261]]) ||20 Signum Ostiense (''A sign of Ostia'')
|-
|184 ||'''[[Pope Urban IV|Urban IV]]''' ([[1261]]-[[1264]]) ||21 Hierusalem Campaniae (''Jerusalem of Champagne'') ||Native of [[Troyes]], [[Champagne (province)|Champagne]], later patriarch of [[Jerusalem]]
|-
|185 ||'''[[Pope Clement IV|Clement IV]]''' ([[1265]]-[[1268]]) ||22 Draca depressus (''A dragon held down'')
|-
|186 ||'''[[Pope Gregory X|Gregory X]]''' ([[1271]]-[[1276]]) ||23 Anguinus vir (''A snake-like life'')
|-
|187 ||'''[[Pope Innocent V|Innocent V]]''' ([[1276]]) ||24 Concionatur Gallus (''A French preacher'')
|-
|188 ||'''[[Pope Adrian V|Adrian V]]''' ([[1276]]) ||25 Bonus Comes (''A good count'')
|-
|189 ||'''[[Pope John XXI|John XXI]]''' ([[1276]]-[[1277]]) ||26 Piscator Tuscus (''The Tuscan fisherman'')
|-
|190 ||'''[[Pope Nicholas III|Nicholas III]]''' ([[1277]]-[[1280]]) ||27 Rosa composita (''A composed rose'')
|-
|191 ||'''[[Pope Martin IV|Martin IV]]''' ([[1281]]-[[1285]]) ||28 Ex teloneo liliacei Martini (''From the receipt of custom of Martin of the Lilies'')
|-
|192 ||'''[[Pope Honorius IV|Honorius IV]]''' ([[1285]]-[[1287]]) ||29 Ex rosa leonina (''Out of the leonine rose'')
|-
|193 ||'''[[Pope Nicholas IV|Nicholas IV]]''' ([[1288]]-[[1292]]) ||30 Picus inter escas (''A woodpecker among fodder'')
|-
|194 ||'''St. [[Pope Celestine V|Celestine V]]''' ([[1294]]) ||31 Ex eremo celsus (elevated from a hermit) ||Hist.: prior to his election he was a hermit in the monastery of [[Apulia|Pouilles]]
|-
|195 ||'''[[Pope Boniface VIII|Boniface VIII]]''' ([[1294]]-[[1303]]) ||32 Ex undarum benedictione (''From a blessing of the waves'')
|-
|196 ||'''[[Pope Benedict XI|Benedict XI]]''' ([[1303]]-[[1304]]) ||33 Concionator patereus (''A Patarean preacher'')
|-
|197 ||'''[[Pope Clement V|Clement V]]''' ([[1305]]-[[1314]]) ||34 De fessis Aquitanicis (''Ribbon/Ditches of Aquitaine'') || Archbishop of [[Bordeaux]] in [[Aquitaine]]
|-
|198 ||'''[[Pope John XXII|John XXII]]''' ([[1316]]-[[1334]]) ||35 De sutore osseo (''Of the cobbler of Osseo'') || Family name Ossa, son of a shoe-maker
|-
| ||[[Antipope Nicholas V]] ([[1328]]-[[1330]]) ||36 Corvus schismaticus (''The schismatic crow'') ||Note the reference to the schism, the only antipope at this period
|-
|199 ||'''[[Pope Benedict XII|Benedict XII]]''' ([[1334]]-[[1342]]) ||37 Frigidus Abbas (''Cold friar]]) ||Hist.: he was a priest in the monastery of [[Fontfroide]] (coldfront)
|-
|200 ||'''[[Pope Clement VI|Clement VI]]''' ([[1342]]-[[1352]]) ||38 De rosa Attrebatensi (''From the rose of Arras'')
|-
|201 ||'''[[Pope Innocent VI|Innocent VI]]''' ([[1352]]-[[1362]]) ||39 De montibus Pammachii (''From the mountains of Pammachius'')
|-
|202 ||'''[[Pope Urban V|Urban V]]''' ([[1362]]-[[1370]]) ||40 Gallus Vice-comes (''A French viscount'')
|-
|203 ||'''[[Pope Gregory XI|Gregory XI]]''' ([[1370]]-[[1378]]) ||41 Novus de Virgine forti (''Novel of the virgin fort'') ||Hist.: count of Beaufort, later Cardinal of Ste-Marie La Neuve
|-
| ||[[Antipope Clement VII]] ([[1378]]-[[1394]]) ||42 De cruce Apostilica (''From an apostolic cross'')
|-
| ||[[Antipope Benedict XIII]] ([[1394]]-[[1423]]) ||43 Luna Cosmedina (''The moon of Cosmedin'')
|-
| ||[[Antipope Clement VIII]] ([[1423]]-[[1429]]) ||44 Schisma Barcinonicum (''A schismatic from Barcelona'')
|-
|204 ||'''[[Pope Urban VI|Urban VI]]''' ([[1378]]-[[1389]]) ||45 De Inferno praegnanti (''Pregnani from hell'')
|-
|205 ||'''[[Pope Boniface IX|Boniface IX]]''' ([[1389]]-[[1404]]) ||46 Cubus de mixtione (''The square of mixture'')
|-
|206 ||'''[[Pope Innocent VII|Innocent VII]]''' ([[1404]]-[[1406]]) ||47 De meliore sydere (''From a better star'')
|-
|207 ||'''[[Pope Gregory XII|Gregory XII]]''' ([[1406]]-[[1415]]) ||48 Nauta de ponte nigro (''Sailor from the black bridge/point'')
|-
| ||[[Antipope Alexander V]] ([[1409]]-[[1410]]) ||49 Flagellum Solis (''Scourge of the sun'')
|-
| ||[[Antipope John XXIII]] ([[1410]]-[[1415]]) ||50 Cervus Sirenae (''Stag of Syrenae'')
|-
|208 ||'''[[Pope Martin V|Martin V]]''' ([[1417]]-[[1431]]) ||51 Corona veli aurei (''Crown with the golden veil'')
|-
|209 ||'''[[Pope Eugenius IV|Eugenius IV]]''' ([[1431]]-[[1447]]) ||52 Lupa caelestina (''Celestinian she-wolf'')
|-
| ||[[Antipope Felix V]] ([[1439]]-[[1449]]) ||53 Amator crucis (''Lover of the Cross'')
|-
|210 ||'''[[Pope Nicholas V|Nicholas V]]''' ([[1447]]-[[1455]]) ||54 De modicitate lunae (''Of the moon's temperance'')
|-
|211 ||'''[[Pope Callixtus III|Callistus III]]''' ([[1455]]-[[1458]]) ||55 Bos pascens (''Grazing ox'')|| Alphonse Borgia's arms sported a golden grazing ox
|-
|212 ||'''[[Pope Pius II|Pius II]]''' ([[1458]]-[[1464]]) ||56 De capra et Albergo (''From a she-goat and a tavern'')
|-
|213 ||'''[[Pope Paul II|Paul II]]''' ([[1464]]-[[1471]]) ||57 De cervo et Leone (''From a stag and a lion'')
|-
|214 ||'''[[Pope Sixtus IV|Sixtus IV]]''' ([[1471]]-[[1484]]) ||58 Piscator Minorita (''Minorite fisherman'')
|-
|215 ||'''[[Pope Innocent VIII|Innocent VIII]]''' ([[1484]]-[[1492]]) ||59 Praecursor Siciliae (''A fore-runner from Sicily'')
|-
|216 ||'''[[Pope Alexander VI|Alexander VI]]''' ([[1492]]-[[1503]]) ||60 Bos Albanus in portu (''Alban bull in port'')
|-
|217 ||'''[[Pope Pius III|Pius III]]''' ([[1503]]) ||61 De parvo homine (''Of a little man'')
|-
|218 ||'''[[Pope Julius II|Julius II]]''' ([[1503]]-[[1513]]) ||62 Fructus jovis juvabit (''The fruit of Jupiter will help'')
|-
|219 ||'''[[Pope Leo X|Leo X]]''' ([[1513]]-[[1521]]) ||63 De craticula Politiana (''From a Politian gridiron'')
|-
|220 ||'''[[Pope Adrian VI|Adrian VI]]''' ([[1522]]-[[1523]]) ||64 Leo Florentius (''Florentine lion'')
|-
|221 ||'''[[Pope Clement VII|Clement VII]]''' ([[1523]]-[[1534]]) ||65 Flos pilaei aegri (''Flower of the Pills'')
|-
|222 ||'''[[Pope Paul III|Paul III]]''' ([[1534]]-[[1549]]) ||66 Hiacynthus medicorum (''The Hyacinth physician'')
|-
|223 ||'''[[Pope Julius III|Julius III]]''' ([[1550]]-[[1555]]) ||67 De corona Montana ('Mount the Crown'')
|-
|224 ||'''[[Pope Marcellus II|Marcellus II]]''' ([[1555]]) ||68 Frumentum floccidum (''Fluffy Wheat'')
|-
|225 ||'''[[Pope Paul IV|Paul IV]]''' ([[1555]]-[[1559]]) ||69 De fide Petri (''Of the faith of Peter'')
|-
|226 ||'''[[Pope Pius IV|Pius IV]]''' ([[1559]]-[[1565]]) ||70 Aesculapii pharmacum (''The drug of Asclepius'')
|-
|227 ||'''St. [[Pope Pius V|Pius V]]''' ([[1566]]-[[1572]]) ||71 Angelus nemorosus (''Angel of the Forest'')
|-
|228 ||'''[[Pope Gregory XIII|Gregory XIII]]''' ([[1572]]-[[1585]]) ||72 Medium corpus pilarum (''Half of a body of balls'')
|-
|229 ||'''[[Pope Sixtus V|Sixtus V]]''' ([[1585]]-[[1590]]) ||73 Axis in medietate signi (''An axis in the midst of signs'')
|-
|230 ||'''[[Pope Urban VII|Urban VII]]''' ([[1590]]) ||74 De rore caeli (''Of the Dew of the Sky'')
|-
|231 ||'''[[Pope Gregory XIV|Gregory XIV]]''' ([[1590]]-[[1591]]) ||75 De antiquitate Urbis (''Of the old city'')
|-
|232 ||'''[[Pope Innocent IX|Innocent IX]]''' ([[1591]]) ||76 Pia civitas in bello (''Pious City in War'')
|-
|233 ||'''[[Pope Clement VIII|Clement VIII]]''' ([[1592]]-[[1605]]) ||77 Crux Romulea (''Roman Cross'')
|-
|234 ||'''[[Pope Leo XI|Leo XI]]''' ([[1605]]) ||78 Undosus Vir (''Wavy Male'')
|-
|235 ||'''[[Pope Paul V|Paul V]]''' ([[1605]]-[[1621]]) ||79 Gens perversa (''The Evil People'')
|-
|236 ||'''[[Pope Gregory XV|Gregory XV]]''' ([[1621]]-[[1623]]) ||80 In tribulatione pacis (''In trouble with the Peace'')
|-
|237 ||'''[[Pope Urban VIII|Urban VIII]]''' ([[1623]]-[[1644]]) ||81 Lilium et rosa (''Lily and Rose'')
|-
|238 ||'''[[Pope Innocent X|Innocent X]]''' ([[1644]]-[[1655]]) ||82 Jucunditas crucis (''Delight of the Cross'')
|-
|239 ||'''[[Pope Alexander VII|Alexander VII]]''' ([[1655]]-[[1667]]) ||83 Montium custos (''Guardian of the Hills'') || Had his family crest three hills with a star above them.
|-
|240 ||'''[[Pope Clement IX|Clement IX]]''' ([[1667]]-[[1669]]) ||84 Sydus Olorum (''Constellation of swans'') || Upon his election, he was apparently the occupant of the Chamber of Swans in the Vatican.
|-
|241 ||'''[[Pope Clement X|Clement X]]''' ([[1670]]-[[1676]]) ||85 De flumine magno (''Of a Great River'')
|-
|242 ||'''[[Pope Innocent XI|Innocent XI]]''' ([[1676]]-[[1689]]) ||86 Bellua insatiabilis (''Insatiable beast'')
|-
|243 ||'''[[Pope Alexander VIII|Alexander VIII]]''' ([[1689]]-[[1691]]) ||87 Poenitentia gloriosa (''Glorious penitence'')
|-
|244 ||'''[[Pope Innocent XII|Innocent XII]]''' ([[1691]]-[[1700]]) ||88 Rastrum in porta (''The rake at the door'')
|-
|245 ||'''[[Pope Clement XI|Clement XI]]''' ([[1700]]-[[1721]]) ||89 Flores circumdati (''Surrounded by Flowers'')
|-
|246 ||'''[[Pope Innocent XIII|Innocent XIII]]''' ([[1721]]-[[1724]]) ||90 De bona Religione (''Of the Good Religion'')
|-
|247 ||'''[[Pope Benedict XIII|Benedict XIII]]''' ([[1724]]-[[1730]]) ||91 Miles in bello (''Soldier in War'')
|-
|248 ||'''[[Pope Clement XII|Clement XII]]''' ([[1730]]-[[1740]]) ||92 Columna excelsa (''Lofty Column'')
|-
|249 ||'''[[Pope Benedict XIV|Benedict XIV]]''' ([[1740]]-[[1758]]) ||93 Animal rurale (''Rural Animal'')
|-
|250 ||'''[[Pope Clement XIII|Clement XIII]]''' ([[1758]]-[[1769]]) ||94 Rosa Umbriae (''The Rose of Umbria'') || Served in Umbria before becoming pope - Umbria's emblem is the rose
|-
|251 ||'''[[Pope Clement XIV|Clement XIV]]''' ([[1769]]-[[1774]]) ||95 Ursus velox (''Swift Bear'') || Had the image of a running bear on his family crest
|-
|252 ||'''[[Pope Pius VI|Pius VI]]''' ([[1775]]-[[1799]]) ||96 Peregrinus Apostolicus (''Apostolic wanderer'') || Spent the last years of his life as a fugitive from the policial aftermath of the French Revolution
|-
|253 ||'''[[Pope Pius VII|Pius VII]]''' ([[1800]]-[[1823]]) ||97 Aquila rapax (''Rapacious eagle'')
|-
|254 ||'''[[Pope Leo XII|Leo XII]]''' ([[1823]]-[[1829]]) ||98 Canis et coluber (''Dog and adder'')
|-
|255 ||'''[[Pope Pius VIII|Pius VIII]]''' ([[1829]]-[[1830]]) ||99 Vir religiosus (''Religious Male'')
|-
|256 ||'''[[Pope Gregory XVI|Gregory XVI]]''' ([[1831]]-[[1846]]) ||100 De balneis hetruriae (''From the baths of Etruria'') || Prior to his election he was member of an order founded by [[Saint Romuald]], at [[Balneo]], in [[Etruria]], present day [[Tuscany]].
|-
|257 ||'''[[Pope Pius IX|Pius IX]]''' ([[1846]]-[[1878]]) ||101 Crux de cruce (''Cross of the Cross'')
|-
|258 ||'''[[Pope Leo XIII|Leo XIII]]''' ([[1878]]-[[1903]]) ||102 Lumen in caelo (''Light in the Sky'')
|-
|259 ||'''St. [[Pope Pius X|Pius X]]''' ([[1903]]-[[1914]]) ||103 Ignis ardent (''Ardent fire'') ||[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes#Pope_Pius_X_.28Ignis_ardent.29 See below]
|-
|260 ||'''[[Pope Benedict XV|Benedict XV]]''' ([[1914]]- [[1922]]) ||104 Religio depopulata (''Religion laid waste'') ||[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes#Pope_Benedict_XV_.28Religio_depopulata.29 See below]
|-
|261 ||'''[[Pope Pius XI|Pius XI]]''' ([[1922]]-[[1939]]) ||105 Fides intrepida (''Intrepid faith'') ||[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes#Pope_Pius_XI_.28Fides_intrepida.29 See below]
|-
|262 ||'''[[Pope Pius XII|Pius XII]]''' ([[1939]]-[[1958]]) ||106 Pastor angelicus (''An angelic shepherd'') ||[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes#Pope_Paul_VI_.28Pastor_angelicus.29 See below]
|-
|263 ||'''[[Pope John XXIII|John XXIII]]''' ([[1958]]-[[1963]]) ||107 Pastor et Nauta (''Pastor and Marine'') ||[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes#Pope_Paul_VI_.28Pastor_et_Nauta.29 See below]
|-
|264 ||'''[[Pope Paul VI|Paul VI]]''' ([[1963]]-[[1978]]) ||108 Flos florum (''Flower of flowers'') ||[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes#Pope_Paul_VII_.28Flos_florum.29 See below]
|-
|265 ||'''[[Pope John Paul I|John Paul I]]''' ([[1978]]) ||109 De medietate Lunae (''Of the half of the moon'') ||[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes#Pope_John_Paul_I_.28De_medietate_Lunae.29 See below]
|-
|266 ||'''[[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]]''' ([[1978]]-[[2005]]) ||110 De labore Solis (''Of the eclipse of the sun, or from the labour of the sun'') ||[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes#Pope_John_Paul_II_.28De_labore_Solis.29 See below]
|-
|267 ||'''[[Pope Benedict XVI|Benedict XVI]]''' ([[2005]]-)||111 Gloria olivae (''The glory of the olive'') ||[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes#Pope_Benedict_XVI_.28Gloria_Olivae.29 See below]
|-
| ||??? ||In persecutione extrema S.R.E. sedebit Petrus Romanus, qui pascet oues in multis tribulationibus: quibus transactis ciuitas septicollis diruetur, & Iudex tremêdus iudicabit populum suum. Finis. (''In extreme persecution, the seat of the Holy Roman Church will be occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed the sheep through many tribulations, at the term of which the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the formidable Judge will judge his people. The End.'') ||[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes#Petrus_Romanus See below]
|}
== Contemporary Popes and the Prophecy ==
==='''[[Pope Pius X]]''' (''Ignis ardent'')===
The motto means "ardent fire". The pope was known for his great personal piety and strong devotion to the church, advocating reforms such as the codification of Canon law, daily [[communion]] and the Gregorian chant in the Catholic liturgy.
==='''[[Pope Benedict XV]]''' (''Religio depopulata'')===
The motto means "religion laid waste". During [[Pope Benedict XV]]'s reign, two significant events occurred: [[World War I]], which killed 15 million people in Europe, and the [[October Revolution]] in [[Russia]], which established the [[atheist]] [[Soviet Union]].
==='''[[Pope Pius XI]]''' (''Fides intrepida'')===
The motto means "intrepid faith". This pope released the encyclical ''[[Mit Brennender Sorge]]'' which condemned [[Nazi]] [[racism]] and also signed agreements with [[fascist]] [[Italy]] which, among other things, gave the Vatican [[sovereignty]], established the pope as [[head of state]], and added 700 million [[Lire]] to the church coffers.
==='''[[Pope Pius XII]]''' (''Pastor angelicus'')===
The motto means "an angelic shepherd". This pope was known to be very mystical, and it was believed that he received visions. Whenever he [[telephone|telephoned]] someone the recipient would always kneel. His writings added greatly to understanding of Catholic beliefs and church doctrine.
==='''[[Pope John XXIII]]''' (''Pastor et Nauta'')===
Prior to his election he was patriarch of [[Venice]], which is a maritime [[city]], famous for is waterways and [[gondola|gondolas]].
According Peter Bander in The Prophecies of Malachy (TAN Books and Publisher, 1969) during the conclave which was to elect John XXIII, a certain Cardinal from the United States, (Cardinal Spellman of New York) evidently having taken Malachy's forecast that the next pope would be "pastor and mariner" literally, rented a boat, filled it with sheep and sailed up and down the Tiber.
==='''[[Pope Paul VI]]''' (''Flos florum'')===
[[Pope Paul VI]], who reigned from [[1963]] - [[1978]], is described in the prophecies as ''Flos florum'' (flower of flowers). His personal arms bore three [[fleur-de-lis|fleurs-de-lis]], the well-used symbol in [[flags]] and [[heraldry]] used to represent the [[French]] [[monarchy]]. "Fleurs-de-lis" literally means "flower of lily". However, this disregards all the other papal arms that had flowers on them as well.
==='''[[Pope John Paul I]]''' (''De medietate Lunae'')===
''De medietate Lunae'' translates to "of the half-moon". It could also be interpreted as ''de media aetate lunae'', meaning of the average age of the moon. Albino Luciani, who later became [[Pope John Paul I]], was born in Canale d'Ogardo, diocese of Belluno (beautiful moon). He was elected on [[August 26]], [[1978]], the day after the moon reached its [[lunar phase|last quarter]], and reigned for 33 days, approximately five days longer than a lunar cycle. He died the day before the new moon. However, a much simpler explanation might be that he was born on the day of the half moon: on [[October 17]], [[1912]], the moon was in its first quarter. Other point to the translation of his name before becoming pope, Albino Luciani, or "white light".
==='''[[Pope John Paul II]]''' (''De labore Solis'')===
The prophetic motto corresponding to [[Pope John Paul II]] is ''De labore Solis'', which literally means "Of the labor of the sun", but "labores solis" also means [http://www.sunsite.ubc.ca/LatinDictionary/HyperText/l.html solar eclipse]. Karol Wojtyla, who later became [[Pope John Paul II]] was born on [[May 18]], [[1920]] during a a partial [[solar eclipse]] over the Indian Ocean, and buried on [[April 8]], [[2005]], the day of [http://www.astronomy.com/default.aspx?c=a&id=3044 a rare "hybrid" eclipse] over the southwestern Pacific and South America. He might also be seen to be the fruit of the intercession of the Woman Clothed with the Sun labouring in Revelation 12 (because of his devotion to the Virgin Mary).
It has also been suggested that the associated Latin phrase could also be a cryptic term for ''de borealis sol'', of the northern sun, being a luminary coming from Poland to the north; this would be very ungrammatical Latin, however. It has also so happened that an abnormally high number of sunspots have been recorded throughout all the many years of his pontificate. Another interpretation points simply to the sun rising in the east and his being the first Pope from Eastern Europe. Yet another is that he was the first Pope to go around the world, as the Sun does. A further theory is that the combination of ''labore'' and ''solis'' cryptically refers to "the sun of the workers", i.e., the star of communism, with John Paul being the only pope to have spent much of his life under a communist regime.
==='''[[Pope Benedict XVI]]''' (''Gloria Olivae'')===
''Gloria Olivae'', glory of the olive, is the next phrase following ''De labore Solis''. Prior to the papal conclave, this motto led to speculation that the next pontiff would be from the [[Order of Saint Benedict]], whose symbols include the olive branch. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, selected in April 2005, is not a Benedictine, but did pick [[Pope Benedict XVI|Benedict XVI]] as his papal name, which might be regarded as a fulfillment of this prophecy.
It must be noted that, probably thanks to the Prophecy, the betting site [http://www.paddypower.com PaddyPower] accurately predicted that Benedict would have the highest odds of being the future papal name.
Yet there can also be a different meaning. Pope Benedict XVI had his birthday on [[April 16]] and on that day is celebrated the feast of Saint Benedict Joseph Labrè ([[March 26]] [[1748]] - [[April 16]] [[1783]]), also known as the Holy Pilgrim. His first name was already Joseph and together with Benedict, which he has now assumed, his Christian namesake is now complete. Moreover, the Order of St Benedict is also known as that of the Olivetans.
According to other interpreters, he will promote world [[peace]] (as in an [[Peace_symbol#The_dove_and_the_olive_branch|olive branch]]).
Fittingly, Pope Benedict XVI has chosen pax or "peace" as his papal motto.
There had already been, before the election of the pope, <!-- Can someone check if this refers to Benedict XVI or to Clemente Dominguez y Gomez -->a concomitance in two unrelated events occurring on the opening date of the [[Papal conclave, 2005|2005 Conclave]]. First, a [[Turkish]] presidential candidate won overnight the northern [[Cyprus]] elections favouring re-unification peace talks of the two sectors; the [[Cyprus]] flag has two inter-locking olive branches in it. Secondly, [[List of Prime Ministers of Italy|Italian Prime Minister]] [[Silvio Berlusconi]] was forced to resign as a result of pressure from the leftist opposition called ''l'Ulivo''.
[[Clemente Domínguez y Gómez]], the late self-proclaimed Pope of the [[Palmarian Catholic Church]] also used to claim that he was the glory of the olive. <!-- What's this sentence about. Is it still relevant? -->
==='''Petrus Romanus'''===
The longest and final motto reads, "''In persecutione extrema S.R.E. sedebit Petrus Romanus, qui pascet oues in multis tribulationibus: quibus transactis ciuitas septicollis diruetur, & Iudex tremêdus iudicabit populum suum. Finis.''" (During the final persecution, the seat of the Holy Roman Church will be occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed the sheep in many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed, and the terrible Judge will judge his people. The End.) According to some sources, this was not a part of the original prophecy but was added in the early 19<sup>th</sup> Century by a publisher.
Two men claiming to be [[Pope Peter II]] have emerged in recent years, probably inspired by this motto.
There are several interpretations regarding the last Popes listed by St. Malachy taken by those who believe the prophecies:
* Regarding whether additional Popes, not listed by St. Malachy occur between '''Gloria Olivae''' and '''Petrus Romanus''' the following differing views are held:
*# '''Gloria Olivae''' is immediately followed by '''Petrus Romanus'''.
*# Because no number is assigned to '''Petrus Romanus''', he and '''Gloria Olivae''' might be one and the same pope.
*# Because no number is assigned to '''Petrus Romanus''', any number of popes could intervene between these two popes.
* Regarding whether the Papacy ends with '''Petrus Romanus''', the following differing views are held:
*# '''Petrus Romanus''' will be the final Pope. The end of his papacy will mark either the end of the papacy, the end of the [[Roman Catholic Church|Church]], or the end of the world.
*# There will be additional Popes following '''Petrus Romanus''', about which Malachy did not write. There is also possibility that these additional popes might be considered antipopes, which could justify their omission in St. Malachy's eyes.
==See also==
*[[Myths and legends surrounding the Papacy]]
==External links==
*[http://www.catholic-pages.com/grabbag/malachy.asp List of Popes and their corresponding mottos]
*[http://www.jpdawson.com/lastpope.html Discussion of the Prophecy of the Popes]
[[Category:Popes|*{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Christian mythology]]
[[fr:Prophétie de saint Malachie]]
[[it:Profezia sui papi]]
[[pl:Przepowiednia Malachiasza]]
[[sr:Пророчанство Папа]]
| 