The following might present what is to be the future fulfillment of St. Malachy's prophecy concerning "Peter the Roman."
It is lifted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes ...
"Because no number is assigned to Petrus Romanus (Malachy's 112th "pope"), it is possible that (Peter the Roman) may take on the role of the Pope without putting on the robe of the Pope. Under this possible scenario, a catastrophe at the Vatican (perhaps a terrorist attack) could wipe out the top leadership of the Church during either a consistory or a conclave of the College of Cardinals. As a result, with no viable College surviving to elect a new pontiff, this particular scenario would have a surviving official of the Roman Curia succeeding to the top leadership of the Church but not as Pope. Since he would not rise to the Papacy itself but instead would become, in effect, the top caretaker of the Church, he would not need to assume a new papal name such as Peter; thus he would keep the name he has had since his birth in Italy, and that name already would be Peter (or, in Italian, Pietro). Currently (that is, as of March 2006) there is only one such candidate for Petrus Romanus (or Peter the Roman) within the Roman Curia. His name is Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Under-Secretary of State for Relations with States, appointed by Pope John Paul II in 2002 to serve under Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo. A native of Schiavon, Italy, Monsignor Parolin was born in January 1955."
The speculation above seems at least worthy of consideration given:
--Pope Benedict XVI's recent consistory at the Vatican (on 3-24-06). --The expectation that the new pontiff also will hold more consistories in the future. --The expectation that Benedict is about to streamline the Roman Curia (including forcing Angelo Sodano, the Vatican's Secretary of State and Dean of the College of Cardinals, to retire sometime in April). --The new pontiff's desire to reach out to the Muslim world. --The recent bombing by Muslim extremists of a 1,200-year-old mosque's dome in Iraq. --The fact that in 2,000 years no newly-elected Pope has ever had the nerve to take the name of Peter (making it unlikely that there will ever be a Pope Peter II but more likely that Peter the Roman will be a non-Pope who acts as caretaker of the Church).
Given that most prophecies revealed in hindsight often surprise us with how vaguely they resembled the actual prophecy - nothing should surprise us. So, your scenario could be right on or way off; only time will tell. Bottom line, we need to be ready right now in our soul, for anything to happen.
[crickets chirping]
Now if the prophecy were "Glory of the Beer Stein" or "Glory of the Oak Leaf" (the oak leaf and acorn are a traditional German symbol, if maybe a bit on the pagan side), I'd be okay with it. But olives? In Southern Bavaria? Huh?
The "Malachi" prophecies weren't written by St. Malachi, and are a bunch of hokum. JMO, YMMD.
This is an odd first post for someone who just joined today.
Call me fanatical, but converting Mecca and Medina into matching parking lots comes to mind.
The Prophecies of St. Malachy are a large dose of Irish baloney.
Also, in the case of the College of Cardinals going poof, the election of a new Pope would devolve to the remaining Roman Clergy, who hold the power of election by natural right (the Cardinals upon being named Cardinals automatically become the voting portion of the Roman Clergy and take possession of a titualr Church of which they are pastor). No caretakers needed.
Interesting post. Msgr. Parolin need not take the name of Peter as pope since his first name is already Peter. I disagree with the rest of the thinking however.
This pope, BXVI, was largely formed by the Benedictines. He spent some time in their monasteries although never officially became one. If anyone bothers to read his writings, his philosophy is distinctly Benedictine. He chose his name in honor of the order.
Petrus Romanus has been referred to in several prophecies apart from St. Malachy. There are two theories. The pope of Fatima prediction who flees Rome may be BVXI. That pope will die a cruel death after remaining in hiding for a short time. An anti-pope will take the throne in his place, someone not validly elected although the world will accept him (Mahony's man, Levada anyone??) At this point the prophecies diverge. Some state the remaining faithful bishops and cardinals of the world will secretly convene and elect a valid pope. Other prophecies state Heaven itself will chose Peter the Roman via the reappearance of Moses and Elijah.
The prophecies are apocalyptic at this point. We'll only know for certain when the time comes.
I smell ozone. Me thinks you are a troll.
This now seems a bit closer to truth.
Interesting call that Pietro is now Secretary of State, often thought of as #2 in the Vatican hierarchy.
Sure, Pope Francis seems to completely debunk Malachy, since he succeeds “The Glory of the Olives.” But what it the glory of the olives is that after being cut off, Benedict is grafted back onto the tree, and returns as Pope?
Truthfully, Peter the Roman is an invention centuries more recent than the already silly Prophecies of four-centuries-after Malachy. But I’m like a cat with a ball of yarn when it comes to conspiracy theories, prophecies, etc.