Prophecies of the Popes by Saint Malachy

When Pope Benedict XVI was elected in April 2005, the world of journalism grabbed hold of Saint Malachy's prophecies from 1139. His last prophecy was of Pope Benedict XVI and points toward the end of the age.

Saint Malachy gave these prophecies while visiting Pope Innocent II in Rome. He had a vision of the popes, during which he produced a short phrase in Latin given to each one.

I took a look at all the prophecies and Popes, starting with Pope Celestine II who reigned from 1143 to 1144. Since none of us lived backed then, I decided to focus just on the last three of our time.

Pope John Paul I

His Latin phrase is De medietate Lunae, meaning "of the half moon" or "of the middleness of the moon." Pope John Paul I, whose real name was Albino Liciani, was born in Canale d'Agordo, dioceseof Belluno. The name is like "bella luna" which means beautiful moon. He was elected pope on the day after the moon reached its last quarter on August 26, 1978, and reigned for only 33 days. He died the day before the next new moon, reigning for just over one lunar cycle. He was also born on the day of the half moon, October 17, 1912, when the moon was in its first quarter.

There is also a play on his name: Albino related to albus, "white" and Luciani perhaps like lux, lucis, or light, thus meaning "white light" like the moon reflecting the sun.

Pope John Paul II

He reigned from 1978 to 2005. His Latin phrase is De labore Solis meaning "of the labour of the sun." Labore Solis translates into "travails of the sun" which is often referred to as a solar eclipse. Pope John Paul II, whose real name was Karol Wojtyla, was born May 18, 1920 during a solar eclipse and was buried on April 8, 2005, during a rare eclipse over the Americas.

Other interpretations point to him as being the first pope from Eastern Europe, where the sun rises. Also, he was the first pope to travel around the world (like the sun) and the first to have spent much of his life under communism, thus labore and solis referring to "the sun of the workers" (the star of Communism). Lastly, he labored in the sun working in a quarry during World War II.

Pope Benedict XVI

His reign began in April 2005 and his Latin phrase is Gloria Olivae meaning "the glory of the olive" or "to the olive" referring to the olive branch symbol of peace. Pope Benedict XVI, whose real name is Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, is not of the Order of Saint Benedict, but his chosen papal name links him to Saint Benedict who was distantly connected to the Olivetans, a sub-order of the Benedictines. (See Wikipedia reference for further explaination of the Benedictines and Olivetans.) Pope Benedict XVI is keenly interested in world peace and reuniting the Eastern Orthodox churches. The Greek symbol of the olive can refer to the Greek Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church which is an extension of the Greek.

The "end of the world" prophecy concerning our current pope comes from an additional Latin prophetic word, perhaps added later. First the Latin: "In persecutione extema S.R.E. sedebit Petrus Romanus, qui pascet oves in multis tribulationibus: quibus transactis civitas septicollis diruetur, et Iudex tremendous iudicabit populum suum. Finis."

The English translation: "During the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church, the seat will be occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed his sheep in many tribulations; and when these things are finished, the seven-hilled city will be destroyed, and the terrible Judge will judge his people. The End."

There are many speculations about this last prophecy. It may or may not even by Saint Malachy. If added later, it could mean that Pope Benedict XVI is truly the last pope, or that another pope, Petrus Romanus will be the last. One note of interest is that on April 11, 2006, an "Olive Group" led by former EU Commission President Romano Prodi (Produs Ramanus) won the Italian general elections. The year before, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was forced to resign. He formed l'Ulivo, "The Olive Tree." Both refer to the olive "peace" and Produs Ramanus adds to the last prophecy by name.

Regardless of this last prophetic Latin word relating to Pope Benedict XVI or not, it does point to "The End Times" and Saint Malachy ended his vision and prophecies (that we know are to be his) with peace. The End of the Age is also associated with peaceful times just prior to the disasters of the Great Tribulation.