Prophecy of the Popes

{{christianity}}The '''Prophecy of the Popes''' is a set of 112 supposed predictions of future [[Pope]]s, attributed to the twelfth-century Irish {{Wpl|Saint Malachy}} but only known from 1590. The cryptic nature of the predictions has led to much [[bullshit|speculation]] on their meaning, in a similar manner to those of [[Nostradamus]], but not on such an industrial scale. On the other hand, it may be a form of Irish humour. The "prophecy" has, 
naturally
 shockingly enough, required rather more shoehorning to remain "accurate" for Popes elected after 1590.

The retirement of [[Benedict XVI]], the penultimate Pope on the list, led to some theorizing by people who believe this list has any validity. Hopefully after this and the [[2012 apocalypse]] turned into non-events fewer people will take [[List of predictions of the end of the world|end of the world doomsayers]] seriously, at least for a few years.

==Persons whose future utterances may be disregarded==
Bibleprobe.com ask if Benedict XVI is the final pope, and decide to mention, in a peroration on the [[antichrist]], [[Vladimir Putin]]'s visit to Israel.<ref>[http://www.bibleprobe.com/last10popes.htm Malachy's Prophecies - The Last 10 Popes]</ref> [[PrisonPlanet]], of course, has its say, and a look through the comments gives us plenty of entertaining thinking ("THE MEDIA IS THE JDEOMSNC TOOL HELPING TO DESTROY CHRISTIANITY").<ref>[http://www.prisonplanet.com/apocalypse-now-the-final-pope.html Apocalypse Now? The Final Pope]</ref> You'd think Marketwatch, run by the ''Wall Street Journal'', might have something sensible to say, but again the comments, though slightly less conspiratorial than prisonplanet, can come up trumps. "Too many people are controlled by the illumanati media music ect. [sic] just like here chasing the money root of all evil (devil is in the gooberment [sic]) 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 must killl [sic] the beast so pray[er] is the only hope we have and conversion GOD has a plan for us that try to be good," says the no doubt wise and learned Timmy Martin.<ref>[http://www.marketwatch.com/story/prophecy-is-the-next-pope-the-last-pope-2013-02-11?link=MW_latest_news Prophecy: Is the next pope the last pope?]</ref>

==''Petrus Romanus''==
{{cquote|''In persecutione extrema S.R.E. sedebit. Petrus Romanus, qui pascet oves in multis tribulationibus, quibus transactis civitas septicollis diruetur, & judex tremedus judicabit populum suum. Finis.'' "In the extreme persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit Peter the Roman, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations, and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and a terrible judge or the terrible judge ([[Latin]] is not specific) will judge his people. The End."}}
This can easily be interpreted as the [[Last Judgement]] but if the world survives the prediction is sufficiently vague that other events can be [[shoehorning|shoehorned]] to fit.  

Petrus Romanus is often translated as Peter the Roman, but "petrus" can also mean a "rock", the Latinised version of Greek "petros".

Since Pope Benedict resigned while living, it is likely not all Roman Catholics will see his successor as valid. <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21616503 Benedict XVI resignation: The two-pope problem]</ref>

===Runners and riders===
In the runup to the February 2013 conclave, candidates for the final Pope were:<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/11/next-pope-contenders-vatican-job Who will be the next pope? The contenders for Vatican's top job]</ref>
*Peter Turkson (born 1948), a [[Ghana]]ian and a "wonderful" "people's person" apparently. Would be the first [[Africa]]n Pope since {{Wpl|Pope Gelasius I|Gelasius I}} in 496. And check that first name! One website expected Peter the Ghanaian to become Peter the Roman.<ref>[http://prophecyinthemaking.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/coming-black-pope.html The Coming Black Pope]</ref>
*Tarcisio Pietro Bertone (Pietro is Peter in English) <ref>[http://bibleprobe.com/ 'Final pope' already running Vatican?][http://www.wnd.com/2013/02/final-pope-already-running-vatican/ Benedict might have 'stacked deck' in fulfillment of prophecy]</ref> Tarcisio is also an anagram of Iscariot in English. Spooky. He was born at ''Romano'' Canavese.
*Marc Ouellet (born 1944) would be the first [[Quebec]]ois, or even North American, Pope. Issued an apology in 2007 for the Church's pre-1960's racist, sexist and homophobic attitudes. Abortion, though, is still a "moral crime", even in cases of rape.
*Angelo Scola (born 1941): "we Christians often propose [matters] moralistically instead of giving reasons, instead of convincing...This is a weakness of ours." No shit.
*Pietro Parolin, Vatican diplomat and ambassador to [[Hugo Chavez]] and elsewhere.
*Odilo Scherer, middle name "Pedro" (Portuguese for Peter), a vocal opponent of abortion, and of the secularization of Brazil.

That's an awful lot of Peters. Or a lot of awful Peters.

===And the winner is...===
[[Jorge Mario Bergoglio]], who has taken the Papal name [[Pope Francis|Francis]]. Not a Peter in sight. Jorge, you should be ashamed - you've let down millions of [[conspiracy theory|conspiracy theorists]]!  

Wait! There are several Peters after all, Saint Francis was originally Giovanni Di '''Pietro''' Di Bernardone. <ref>[http://www.wnd.com/2013/07/uncanny-popes-coats-of-arms-back-up-prophecy/ Uncanny! Popes' coats of arms back up prophecy] [http://www.geni.com/people/Saint-Francis-of-Assisi/6000000020340400849 Giovanni de Pietro di Bernardone, Saint Francis of Assisi]</ref> And the Vatican stated bones they found are those of [[Peter the Apostle]] so with a bit of imagination that can also make Francis into Peter the Roman.<ref>[http://www.inquisitr.com/1042420/peter-the-roman-st-peters-bones-linked-to-petrus-romanus-conspiracy-theory/ Peter The Roman: St. Peter’s Bones Linked To Petrus Romanus Conspiracy Theory]</ref> And there are yet more coincidences linking Pope Francis to Peter, to rocks and a great deal more. <ref>[http://beforeitsnews.com/alternative/2013/03/pope-francis-is-petrus-romanus-heres-why-2595310.html Pope Francis Is ‘Petrus Romanus’, Here’s Why.]</ref> Peter is a common name and rocks are a major part of the [[earth]], therefore it should not surprise us that Francis can be [[shoehorning|shoehorned]] into the prophecy.

==See also==
*[[List of predictions of the end of the world]]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Catholicism]]
[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Popes]]

Categories: Catholicism, Christianity, Popes