Couldn't "olive" also refer to the olive branch as a symbol of peace? Couldn't this person be considered an ultimate peacemaker, maybe reconciling Christians and Muslims to peaceful cohabitation much like attempts are being made in Palestine and Israel? Or, maybe a peacemaker in the modern world is perceived as someone who is such an absolute pacifist that he would be a chronic appeaser, quite unlike JPII.
The information is also interesting about Spain as an olive producer as Italy is the olive-oil capital of the world, according to the Corleone family.
I realize that but find it difficult to make a hispanic fit with 'glory of the olive'. :) The comment makes me think 'pit', 'pimento', 'martini', 'oil'.