New Pope fullfills Prophecy?
By Phil Stewart Thu Apr 28, 9:33 AM ET
ROME (Reuters) – Pope Benedict’s ascent to the papacy took a conclave of 115 cardinals, four rounds of voting and followed a lifetime of service to the Vatican.
But ask Internet doomsayers eyeing a 12th century Catholic prophecy and they’ll tell you it was all stitched up more than eight centuries ago and that judgment day is nigh.
The prophecy — widely dismissed by scholars as a hoax — is attributed to St. Malachy, an Irish archbishop recognized by members of the Church for his ability to read the future.
Benedict, believers say, fits the description of the second-to-last pope listed under the prophecy before the Last Judgment, when the bible says God separates the wicked from the righteous at the end of time.
“The Old Testament states: ‘believe his prophets and you will prosper’ — so believe it. We are close to the return of the Judge of the nations. Christ is coming,” wrote one Internet post by the Reverend Pat Reynolds.
“Thank God for the witness of St. Malachy.”
St. Malachy was said to have had a vision during a trip to Rome around 1139 of the remaining 112 Popes. The new pope would be number 111 on that list, and is described in a text attributed to St. Malachy as the “Glory of the Olive”.
To connect Benedict, a pale, bookish German, to anything olive takes some imagination. But Malachy-watchers point to the choice of the name Benedict — an allusion to the Order of Saint Benedict, a branch of which is known as the Olivetans.
“When (he) chose the name Benedict XVI, this was seen as fulfilling the prophecy for this pope,” wrote one entry on www.wikipedia.org.
Benedict said that he chose the name partly in honour of Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922), calling him a “courageous prophet of peace”. On Wednesday, Benedict dedicated his papacy to “the service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples”.
“Perhaps Benedict XVI will be a peacemaker in the Church or in the world, and thus carry the olive branch,” speculated www.catholic-pages.com.
Another site, www.bibleprobe.com, went even further, showing a picture of Benedict holding olive branches in March during Palm Sunday celebrations.
“Is this the Pope of Peace (olive)?” it asked in the caption.
Critics widely dismiss the Malachy prophecy as a forgery and possible propaganda meant to influence a 16th century conclave. Doses of scepticism even appear on the most energetic Malachy web pages.
But believers point out similarities between the prophecy’s descriptions and past pontificates.
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.
More pressing for doomsayers are the prophecy’s references to the last Pope on the list, Peter the Roman, who will lead the Church before “the formidable judge will judge his people”.
Since Benedict is already 78 years old, they say Peter the Roman must be coming soon, and with him, the end of the world.
“His reign will only last a few years at most. This signals that we are living in what may be the end of days as we know it,” said one website entry by someone calling himself SmartBob.
bonnieq said,
September 10, 2006 at 1:45 am
Regarding one of the signs that Jesus is about to come in the clouds was His statement referencing Daniel’s prophecy, “When you see the abomination of desolation, of which Daniel spoke, standing in this holy place. . .” Jesus and His Apostles had just left the temple and were walking through the city; thus, “this holy place” was referring to Jerusalem, as opposed to the Temple as claimed by many today who also claim the temple must be rebuilt. According to Daniel, it will never be rebuilt.
Pope John Paul II was the pope to watch and, indeed, on two occasions he stood in Jerusalem. Therefore, the time is at hand and Jesus is even at the door: any day, any hour now.
http://bonnieq.wordpress.com
Truth Seekers and Speakers, link on blog page
Unicorn Haven, link on blog page
Roberto Manguiob said,
September 20, 2006 at 12:05 am
To fulfill the prophecy he must reconcile all religious belief especilliay to muslim countries and stake to one God regardless of religion and if peace work I think all performances on his behalf will eventually credited on him
readyfortribulation said,
July 27, 2007 at 5:03 am
The prophecies attributed to St. Malachy have been on my radar for some time, and I’ve started a blog about the things that worry me if people start panicking over these prophecies and not trusting in Christ. Please check out my blog and feel free to chime in.
God bless,
Chad
readyfortribulation said,
July 27, 2007 at 7:04 am
OOPS, forgot the link: http://readyfortribulation.wordpress.com
ron/winky said,
March 31, 2008 at 3:27 am
A dream I had on New Years Eve 2000; The Pope is standing in the middle of an enourmous crowd,a Knight with a red cross on a white chest tunic runs a sword through the Popes chest,as he does so he yells “this is the annunciation of Christ”,a voice above the crowd says “Jesus is on Earth and………I awoke at that point. I am just a knock-about kind of bloke so you tell me what it means.
Dave said,
March 31, 2008 at 1:17 pm
A dream is an answer to a question we haven’t learned how to ask.
ron/winky said,
April 1, 2008 at 7:22 am
I appologise Dave, I hope my Question did not seem agressive,and yes I truly believe that not a living person could lay claim to understanding an entity that may be every atom and molecule to our very existance.
ron/winky said,
April 1, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Getting back to that Pope dream,for some unknown reason some prophetic dreams seem cryptic,the prior Pope it was claimed, died from an infection after throat surgery.They say there exists people who claim that there is still a secret society of Knights Templars who’s chest tunic was a red cross on a white backround.Should the doctor who’s scalpel pierced the Popes throat be investigated? If the doctor is a member of a secret society then the phrophecy in the dream may have a beginning at the death of the previous Pope.Or it might be that some organisations are crazy enough to think they could kick start ‘Revelations’.
ron/winky said,
November 10, 2008 at 3:50 am
It has recently been released by the Catholic church that an attempt to stab the Pope by a crazed Spanish Priest back in May 1982 actually drew blood, is it possible to find out if the Priest wore a red cross on his chest and did he say anything as he attacked the Pope.