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Papal Emblem
The Prophecy of the Popes, attributed to Saint Malachy, is a list of 112 short phrases in Latin. They purport to describe each of the Roman Catholic popes (along with a few anti-popes), beginning with Pope Celestine II (elected in 1143) and concluding with a later added pope described in the prophecy as "Peter the Roman", whose pontificate will end in the destruction of the city of Rome followed by the Last Judgment.
The prophecy was first published in 1595 by Arnold de Wyon, a Benedictine historian, as part of his book Lignum Vitæ. Wyon attributed the list to Saint Malachy, the 12th‑century bishop of Armagh in Ireland. According to the traditional account, in 1139, Malachy was summoned to Rome by Pope Innocent II. While in Rome, Malachy purportedly experienced a vision of future popes, which he recorded as a sequence of cryptic phrases. This manuscript was then deposited in the Roman Archive, and thereafter forgotten about until its rediscovery in 1590.
On the other hand, Bernard of Clairvaux's biography of Malachy makes no mention of the prophecy, nor is it mentioned in any record prior to its 1595 publication. This has led to many, including the most recent editions of the Catholic Encyclopedia, to suggest that the prophecy is a late 16th‑century forgery. Some have suggested they were created by Nostradamus and credited to Saint Malachy so the purported seer would not be blamed for the destruction of the papacy. Supporters, such as author John Hogue, who wrote a popular book titled The Last Pope about the claims, generally argue that even if the author of the prophecies may be uncertain, the predictions made are still valid. There seems to be no indication that the papers were in fact a forgery except for the wild inaccuracies and reaching attributions of the later predictions when compared to earlier ones, assuming a 1580-1590 creation date.
Those who doubt the prophecy's authenticity claim that the prophecy's mottoes fit the earlier popes much better than they do those elected after the document's first publication. Such similarities as exist between the later popes and their mottoes can be seen as a product of coincidence and the mottoes' vagueness; that is to say, these later prophecies are susceptible to a confirmation bias.
For example, the association of John Paul II with the motto De labore Solis ("the Sun's labor"), allegedly due to his birth and funeral both occurring at times of solar eclipse ("labores solis"), can be seen as a statistically likely post-diction, as eclipses occur two or more times each year.
Another example of the dubious authority of the prophecy is Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's choice of the name Benedict XVI, which was seen by some as the fulfilment the prophecy De Gloria Olivae, since it is claimed that the olive branch is sometimes used as a symbol of St. Benedict. However, prior to his election there were numerous speculations in the media as to what could be considered as "fulfillment of the prophecy". For example, it was said that any pope from the Benedictine Order; or any Latin American pope (with olive complexion) or any black pope; or any pope from Italy or Spain (two countries strongly associated with the cultivation of olives); or any pope with links to Judaism--any of the aforementioned possibilities was advanced as constituting a fulfillment of the prophecy, giving a broad array of possibilities. It has also been noted that the choice of name, while interesting for those who predicted the choice of the name, was not statistically unlikely, as modern papal names are generally chosen from a fairly limited set of names. In the last 250 years, for example, there have only been seven names used for Popes: John, Benedict, Pius, Gregory, Paul, Leo, and John Paul. Media comments on Pope Benedict XVI's choice of name have suggested that he seeks to emulate Pope Benedict XV's legacy of diplomacy and theological conservatism.
Separate doubts are raised about the last entry, describing Petrus Romanus. Some claim that this was first recorded sometime after 1820 and so is often considered not to be part of the original prophecy.
Interpretation of the mottos has generally relied on finding correspondences between the mottos and the popes' birthplaces, their personal arms, and the events of their pontificates. For example, the first motto, Ex castro Tiberis (From a castle on the Tiber), fits Pope Celestine II's birthplace in Città di Castello, on the Tiber. Pope Clement XIII, referred to in the prophecy Rosa Umbriae, the rose of Umbria, who is stated to have used a rose "as his personal emblem" (his coat of arms does not include one, however, nor was he from Umbria nor had any but the most marginal connection with the region, having been briefly pontifical governor of Rieti, at the time part of Umbria). The technique of word play was evident in instances where interpreters find a phrase fitting more than one explanation.
In recent times, some interpreters of prophetic literature have drawn attention to the prophecies, both because of their success in finding connections between the prophecies and recent popes, and because of the prophecies' imminent conclusion. Interpretations made before the elections of recent popes have generally turned out not to predict their papacies accurately.
The Prophecies of St Malachy
|
Pope No. |
Reignal Name (Reign) |
Name |
Motto (Translation) |
Claimed Historical Reference or Explanation |
Coat of Arms |
|
167 |
Guido de Castello |
1 Ex castro Tyberis |
Hist.: Born in Città di Castello, Umbria, on the shores of the Tiber.[1] |
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168 |
Gherardo Caccianemici del Orso |
2 Inimicus expulsus |
This motto refers to Gheraldo Caccianemici’s surname. “Cacciare” means “to drive away”, and “nemici” is the Italian word for “enemy.” As his name foreshadowed, Caccianemici would be driven from Rome by his own subjects.[2] |
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169 |
Bernardo dei Pagnelli di Montemagno |
3 Ex magnitudine montis |
The motto refers to Pope Eugene’s last name, “Montemagno.”[3] |
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170 |
Corrado di Suburra |
4 Abbas Suburranus |
He was from the Suburra family. |
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171 |
Nicholas Breakspear |
5 De rure albo (From the white Field) |
Educated at the St Albans School in Hertfordshire. Nicholas Breakspear was the bishop of Albano before becoming pope.[4] |
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Ottaviano Monticello |
6 Ex tetro carcere |
He had been a cardinal with the title of St. Nicholas at the Tullian prison. |
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Guido di Crema |
7 Via trans-Tyberina |
As a cardinal, he had held the title of Santa Maria in Trastevere.[5] |
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Giovanni Di Strumi |
8 De Pannonia Tusciae |
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172 |
Orlando Bandinelli Paparoni |
9 Ex ansere custode |
His family's coat of arms had a goose on it.[7] |
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173 |
Ubaldo Allucingoli |
10 Lux in ostio |
In 1159, he became Cardinal Bishop of Ostia.[8] Lux may also be a wordplay on Lucius. |
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174 |
Umberto Crivelli |
11 Sus in cribo |
His family name, Crivelli, means a sieve in Italian. |
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175 |
Alberto De Morra |
12 Ensis Laurentii |
He had been the Cardinal of St. Laurence[9] and his armorial bearing was a drawn sword.[10] |
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176 |
Paolo Scolari |
13 De schola exiet |
His family name was Scolari. |
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177 |
Giancinto Bobone |
14 De rure bovensi |
He was from the Bobone family; a wordplay on cattle. |
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178 |
Lotarto Dei Conti Di Segni |
15 Comes signatus |
Descendant of the Segni family. |
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179 |
Cencio Savelli |
16 Canonicus de latere |
He was a canon for the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, and had served as papal chamberlain in 1188.[11] |
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180 |
Ugolino Dei Conti Di Segni |
17 Avis Ostiensis |
Before his election to the papacy, Ugolino dei Conti was the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia.[12] |
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181 |
Goffredo Castiglioni |
18 Leo Sabinus |
He was Cardinal Bishop of Sabina[13]and his armorial bearing had a lion in it. Also a play on words, referring to the pope's last name, Castiglioni. |
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182 |
Sinibaldo Fieschi |
19 Comes Laurentius |
He was the Cardinal-Priest of San Lorenzo in Lucca,[14] and his father was the Count of Lavagna.[15] |
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183 |
Renaldo Dei Signori Di Ienne |
20 Signum Ostiense |
He was Cardinal Bishop of Ostia and member of the Conti-Segni family.[16] |
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184 |
Jacques Pantaleon |
21 Hierusalem Campaniae (Jerusalem of Champagne ) |
Native of Troyes, Champagne, later patriarch of Jerusalem.[17] |
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185 |
Guido Fulcodi |
22 Draco depressus |
His coat of arms had an eagle crushing a dragon. |
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186 |
Tebaldo Visconti |
23 Anguinus vir |
The Visconti coat of arms had a large serpent devouring a male child feet first.[18] |
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187 |
Petrus a Tarantasia |
24 Concionatur Gallus (A French Preacher) |
He was born in south-eastern France and was a member of the order of Preachers.[19] |
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188 |
Ottobono Fieschi |
25 Bonus Comes |
He was a count and a wordplay on "good" can be made with his name, Ottobono. |
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189 |
Pedro Julião |
26 Piscator Tuscus |
John XXI had been the Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum.[20] |
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190 |
Giovanni Gaetano Orsini |
27 Rosa composita |
He bore a rose in his coat of arms.[21] |
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191 |
Simone De Brion |
28 Ex teloneo liliacei Martini |
He was Canon and Treasurer at the Church of St. Martin in Tours, France. |
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192 |
Giacomo Savelli |
29 Ex rosa leonina |
His coat of arms were emblazoned with two lions supporting a rose.[22] |
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193 |
Girolamo Masci |
30 Picus inter escas |
He was from Ascoli, now called Ascoli Piceno, in Picene country. |
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194 |
Pietro Di Murrone |
31 Ex eremo celsus |
Hist.: prior to his election he was a hermit. Also a play on words, referring to the pope's chosen name, "Celestine." |
|
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195 |
Benedetto Caetani |
32 Ex undarum benedictione |
His coat of arms had a wave through it. Also a play on words, referring to the pope's Christian name, "Benedetto."[23] |
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196 |
Nicholas Boccasini |
33 Concionator patereus |
This Pope belonged to the Order of Preachers. Patara was the hometown of Saint Nicholas, a namesake of this Pope (born Nicholas Boccasini).[24] |
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197 |
Bertrand De Got |
34 De fessis Aquitanicis |
He was a native of St‑Bertrand-de‑Comminges in Aquitaine, and eventually became Archbishop of Bordeaux, also in Aquitaine. His coat of arms displays three horizontal bars, known as “fesses.” |
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198 |
Jacques Duese |
35 De sutore osseo |
His family name was Duèze, D'Euze, D'Euzes, or Euse, the last of which might be back-translated into Latin as Ossa. The popular legend that his father was a cobbler is probably untrue. |
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Pietro Rainallucci di Corvaro |
36 Corvus schismaticus |
The motto is a play on words, referring to Pietro Rainallucci di Corvaro's last name. |
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199 |
Jacques Fournier |
37 Frigidus Abbas |
He was an abbot in the monastery of Fontfroide ("cold spring").[25] |
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200 |
Pierre Roger |
38 De rosa Attrebatensi |
He was Bishop of Arras, (Latin: Episcopus Atrebatensis),[26] and his armorial bearings were emblazoned with six roses.[27] |
 |
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201 |
Etienne Aubert |
39 De montibus Pammachii |
Pope Innocent was born at Mont in the diocese of Limoges, France, and he rose to prominence as the Bishop of Clermont.[28] He had been a cardinal priest with the title of St. Pammachius (i.e., the church of SS. Giovanni e Paolo in Rome)[29] |
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202 |
Guglielmo De Grimoard |
40 Gallus Vice-comes |
He was born of a noble French family. |
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203 |
Pierre Roger De Beaufort |
41 Novus de Virgine forti |
From the Beaufort family and Cardinal of Santa Maria Nuova[30] |
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Robert, Count of Geneva |
42 De cruce Apostilica |
His coat of arms showed a cross, quarterly pierced.[31] |
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Peter De Luna |
43 Luna Cosmedina |
He was the famous Peter De Luna, Cardinal of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.[32] |
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Gil Sanchez Munoz |
44 Schisma Barcinonicum |
He was a Canon of Barcelona.[33] |
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204 |
Bartolomeo Prignano |
45 De Inferno praegnanti |
His family name was Prignano or Prignani, and he was native to a place called Inferno near Naples.[34] |
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205 |
Pietro Tomacelli |
46 Cubus de mixtione |
His coat of arms includes a bend chequy — a wide stripe with a checkerboard pattern.[35] |
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206 |
Cosmo Migliorati |
47 De meliore sydere |
The prophecy is a play on words, referring to the pope's last name, Migliorati. There is a shooting star on his coat of arms.[36] |
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207 |
Angelo Correr |
48 Nauta de ponte nigro (Sailor from the black bridge) |
He was Commendatarius of the Church of Nigripontis. |
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Pietro Philarges |
49 Flagellum Solis |
His coat of arms had a large sun on it. Also, a play on words, referring to the pope's last name, "Philarges."[37] |
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Baldassarre Cossa |
50 Cervus Sirenae |
Baldassarre Cossa was a cardinal with the title of St. Eustachius.[38] St. Eustachius converted to Christianity after he saw a stag with a cross between its horns. Baldassarre's family was originally from Naples, which has the emblem of the siren. |
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208 |
Oddone Colonna |
51 Corona veli aurei |
Oddone Colonna was the Cardinal Deacon of San Giogio in Velabro.[39] The word "Velabro" is derived from "vela aureum", or golden veil.[40] His coat of arms had a golden crown resting atop a column.[41] |
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209 |
Gabriele Condulmaro |
52 Lupa caelestina |
He belonged to the order of the Celestines and was the Bishop of Siena which bears a she-wolf on its arms. |
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Amadeus Duke of Savoy |
53 Amator crucis |
He was previously the count of Savoy and therefore his coat of arms contained the cross of Savoy.[42] Also, the prophecy is a play on words, referring to the antipope's Christian name, "Amadeus." |
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210 |
Tommaso Parentucelli |
54 De modicitate lunae |
He was born in Sarzana in the diocese of Luni, the ancient name of which was Luna. |
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211 |
Alfonso Borgia |
55 Bos pascens |
Alphonse Borgia's arms sported a grazing ox.[43] |
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212 |
Enea Silvio de’ Piccolomini |
56 De capra et Albergo |
He had been secretary to Cardinal Domenico Capranica and Cardinal Albergato before he was elected Pope.[44] |
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213 |
Pietro Barbo |
57 De cervo et Leone |
Possibly refers to his Bishopric of Cervia (a stag) and his Cardinal title of St. Mark (a lion).[45] |
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214 |
Francesco Della Rovere |
58 Piscator Minorita |
He was born the son of a fisherman and a member of the Minor Friars. |
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215 |
Giovanni Battista Cibo |
59 Praecursor Siciliae |
Giovanni Battista Cibo was named after John the Baptist, the precursor of Christ. In his early years, Giovanni served as the Bishop of Molfetta in Sicily.[46] |
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216 |
Rodrigo Borgia |
60 Bos Albanus in portu |
In 1456, he was made a Cardinal and he held the titles of Cardinal Bishop of Albano and Porto. [47] Also, Pope Alexander had a red bull on his coat of arms[48] |
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217 |
Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini |
61 De parvo homine |
His family name was Piccolomini, similar to piccoli uomini = "little men." |
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218 |
Giuliano Della Rovere |
62 Fructus jovis juvabit |
On his arms was an oak tree, which was sacred to Jupiter.[49] Pope Julius' family name, "Della Rovere," literally means "of the oak."[50] |
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219 |
Giovanni De Medici |
63 De craticula Politiana |
His educator and mentor was the distinguished humanist and scholar, Angelo Poliziano. The “Gridiron” is the motto evidently refers to St. Lawrence, who was martyred on a gridiron. This is a rather elliptical allusion to Lorenzo the Magnificent, who was Giovanni’s father.[51] |
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220 |
Adriano Florensz |
64 Leo Florentius |
His coat of arms had two lions on it,[52] and his name is sometimes given as Adriaan Florens, or other variants, from his father's first name.. |
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221 |
Giulio De Medici |
65 Flos pilaei aegri (Flower of the Balls) |
The Medici coat of arms were emblazoned with six medical balls. One of these balls, the largest of the six, was emblazoned with the Florentine lily.[53] |
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222 |
Alesssandro Farnese |
66 Hiacynthus medicorum |
Pope Paul's coat of arms were charged with six hyacinths.[54] Before his ascent to the papacy, Alessandro Farnese had held the title of Saints Cosmas and Damian.[55] Cosmas and Damian were both doctors. |
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223 |
Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte |
67 De corona Montana |
His coat of arms showed mountains and palm branches laid out in a pattern much like a crown.[56] |
