Olive Pope???
Posted on 04/17/2005 12:39:43 AM PDT by NYer
Rome, April 11 (Reuters): Maybe it describes the colour of his skin or place of birth.
But the next Pope will be the “Olive” Pope, according to a 12th century prophecy that foresees just two remaining pontificates before the end of the world.
The often-cited — and contested — prediction is attributed to St Malachy, an Irish archbishop recognised by members of the church for his ability to read the future and who was canonised more than 800 years ago.
St Malachy was said to have had a vision during a trip to Rome around 1139 of the remaining 112 Popes before the Last Judgment, the time when the Bible says God separates the wicked from the righteous at the end of time.
The next Pope will be number 111 on that list and is described in the text as the “Glory of the Olive”.
Like any good prophecy, there is plenty of room for interpretation: he could be “olive” skinned, heralding from Latin America, Africa or the Mediterranean.
“It could even be a Pope of Jewish origin, since the olive branch is a biblical symbol for the people of Israel,” speculated Italy’s La Stampa paper.
Malachy-watchers had long speculated the “Olive” Pope would come from the Order of Saint Benedict, a branch of which is known as the Olivetans. But at the age of 93, the only Benedictine cardinal is now too old to become Pope. The cut-off age is 80.
The Malachy prophecy has been the subject of controversy for centuries. Critics say it is a forgery, possibly distributed as campaign propaganda in the late 16th century to favour a cardinal during the conclave.
But believers point to similarities with the pontiffs. Pope John Paul II, number 110, was described in the prophecy as “de labore solis” — or “of the labour of the sun”.
He was born on May 18, 1920, the same day as a solar eclipse. The pontiff was buried on April 8, 2005 — the same day as a partial eclipse, visible in the Americas.
Some take the prophecy relating to John Paul less literally and say it simply referred to the Polish Pope’s birthplace in eastern Europe. The sun rises in the East. The 109th on the list, Pope John Paul I, was dubbed as “de medietate lunae” or “half moon” by the prophecy.
More pressing, perhaps, for doomsayers are the references to the last Pope on the list “Petrus Romanus”, or Peter the Roman, and makes mention of the destruction of “the city of seven hills” — Rome.
Odds - slim to none; Profile - perfect match.
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I think it means he likes Italian food. :)
If the next pope is Italian, I'm right!
I have to agree with you here. This reminds of all the hoo-ha over the "prophecies of Nostradamus", who . . . as Cecil Adams (somewhat) famously said, "did for B@!!$#*+ what Stonehenge did for rocks."
Note that only some of the phrases are translated - probably nobody can figure out how to make the others match up. (Of course, often little is known about the early popes.)
The clincher for me is that the list LEAVES OUT some of the antipopes . . . the easy way to make a sequential list "come out right" is to monkey around with the order.
“the city of seven hills” — Rome - Babylon
I have read this prophesy for the 111th as well. A number of end-times virulently anti-Catholics are using this prophesy like it's gospel. It fits nicely with their "The world will end in 2007. One generation after the land of Israel was restored".
The temple has still not been rebuilt, there are NO animal sacrifices going on in the non-existant nw temple AND the real estate on which the temple will be rebuild has not been cleared.
This could be nearly as bad as the Y2K hysteria. Jesus Christ himself said that only the Father knew when the end would be, but for all to be ready at anytime. So why do we think that a 12 century monk would have the inside track?
Remember that a Pope does not have to be a Cardinal. He could be a Bishop, priest, or layman.
Agree whole heartedly!
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, benedicta tu in mulieribus, et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus. Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Amen...
Tin foil olives?
ripe or otherwise?
Jimmy the Greek's little brother.
Or, the last passage may be a forgery. It is very different than the other passages, and completely unrelated in style. Aside from Pope John Paul II's uncanny description, most seem preposterous stretches.
Do you remember the one where Father Guido Sarducci went to the convention to nominate the Pope, and came home with all the campaign buttons in Latin?
It was better than "Find the Pope in the pizza" but I never see that one.
Bergoglio, S.J. Jorge Mario
Order in College: Cardinal Priest
With Title: S. Roberto Bellarmino
Native Country: Argentina
Appointed by: John Paul II on 21 February 2001
Ecclesiastical Office: Archbishop of Buenos Aires
Papal Elector: Eligible; Ineligible on 17 December 2016
Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J., was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was ordained a priest for the Jesuit community on December 13, 1969. He served as novice master in the Theological Faculty of San Miguel. From 1973 to 1979, he served as the Jesuit provincial for Argentina. From 1980 to 1986, he was rector of the Philosophical and Theological Faculty of San Miguel. He completed his doctoral dissertation in Germany and served as confessor and spiritual director in Córdoba. On May 20, 1992, he was appointed titular bishop of Auca and auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires, and was consecrated on June 27 1992. On June 3, 1997, he was appointed coadjutor archbishop of Buenos Aires, and on February 28, 1998, he succeeded as bishop of Buenos Aires. He also serves as Ordinary for Eastern-Rite faithful in Argentina who lack their own ordinary, and he serves as second vice-president of the Argentine Episcopal Conference. He was created a cardinal on February 21, 2001. His titular church is St. Robert Bellarmine. He continues to serve as Archbishop of Buenos Aires. In the Roman Curia, he serves in the Congregation for the Discipline of the Sacraments, the Congregation for the Clergy, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and in the Council of the Family.
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