[Netizen]

As one last note, I recall that, according to the famous prophecy of St. Malachy, the next pope will be "Gloria Olivae", the Glory of the Olive. I have seen this interpreted in several ways - that he will be Jewish, that he will be Black, that he will a great reconciler (presumably between East and West), etc. The Order of St. Benedict (the Olivetans) claimed that this pope will be a man from their order. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

With all these variations or possibilities, it makes me wonder if a bit of Nostradamus hindsight will take place after the fact.

[MWS]

I wouldn't doubt it for a second.

The fact is, even if the pope doesn't fit any of the possibilities I have outlined above, people will find a way to make the prophecy fit. For all we know, he might take the name "Pope Benedict XVI", which will be tied to the Order of St. Benedict (without him necessarily being a member), the Olivetans.

That's the beauty of prophecies... when they don't fit, people make them fit.

[Romish_Papist]

"With all these variations or possibilities, it makes me wonder if a bit of Nostradamus hindsight will take place after the fact."

That's my concern too. I'm not knocking the prophecies, but you have to wonder. Isn't there some old saying about finding any connection to something else if you look hard enough?

That said, the "Glory of the Olive" according to the prophecy will do great things for the Church. "De Gloria Olivae/From the Glory of the Olives: The Order of Saint Benedict has claimed that this pope will come from their ranks. Saint Benedict himself prophesied that before the end of the world his Order, known also as the Olivetans, will triumphantly lead the Catholic Church in its fight against evil."