Is Pope Benedict XVI the second-to-last Pope? The
Prophecies of St. Malachy suggest that he is. It is supposedly a list of all the Popes of the Catholic Church, until the end of time. The current Pope,
Gloria olivæ, is the next to last on the list.
The next and supposedly last Pope, named Peter like the first, is predicted to preside over the Church during Judgment Day.
In extreme persecution, the seat of the Holy Roman Church will be occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed the sheep through many tribulations, at the term of which the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the formidable Judge will judge his people. The End.
But don't get too worried. The
Prophecies of St. Malachy are now considered forgeries by most scholars. And making the mottos fit the Popes is sometimes requires Nostradamean contortions.
For example, the current Pope was labeled Gloria olivæ, "Glory of the Olives." Since a branch of the Benedictine order is called the Olivetans, many interpreted this motto to mean that the 267th Pope would be a Benedictine. Though he chose the name Benedict, he is not a Benedictine.
But Brian Regan, in the new ASPO Newsletter (May 2005), has an interesting interpretation. He points out that the English word oil is ultimately derived from the Greek (and Latin) word for olive. Seen in this light, perhaps olivæ means not olives, but oil. Gloria, "glory," "fame," would then mean "height of popularity." Which makes Gloria olivæ "the Pope of Peak Oil." Benedict XVI.
Update [2005-5-6 19:56:32 by randym77]:
Another interesting bit: the last Pope on the list appears to have been added later, by the Benedictines. They didn't want their order associated with the Beast.
If that's true, then the current Pope is actually the last one. Which means he's the Antichrist?