A legend involving an old prophecy of the day could be interpreted The death of Pope Francis Marked the last head of the Catholic church – but don't worry too much.
The legend dates back to an Irish of the 12th century (Saint-Malachy) and a long list of predicted popes, starting in the 1100s and ending after 112 popes. Experts say there are a lot of faults in prediction.
St. Malachy received renewed attention because Francis, Died April 21 at the age of 88could mark the 112th Pope on this list. This means that, depending on how the list is interpreted, it could be the first time in almost 1,000 years, there is no new pope predicted by Saint-Malachy.
The prophecy triggered the imagination of believers, Catholics and others, to several successions of popes. In 2018, he received attention when the history channel broadcast a documentary entitled “The Last Pope?” A New York Times from 1922 report said the prophecies “really imagined” the three most recent popes.
Experts, however, generally do not put much stock in legend. The most important red flag: Malachy probably did not even write the list, which has entered the historic record of hundreds of years after his death.
“Prophecies are a counterfeit,” said the father. James Weiss, episcopal priest and church history teacher at Boston College.
Problems with St. Malachy's legend occurs quickly
The text in question is a list of 112 sentences that would be associated with the popes, starting Celestine II, which was appointed Pope in 1143, said Weiss. Popes are not specifically named. Examples of sentences include “Swift Bear” and “Rose of Ombrie”.
Since the time of Malachy at the end of the 16th century, when historians have largely believed that the list was really written, the descriptions are quite precise, said Weiss. After that, however, he is “struck or missed”, with some examples that seem to line up with real popes and others which are much more stretched.
The 112th Pope was described as “Pierre le Roman”. The prophecy continues in a short paragraph to describe what some interpret the end of the world, or “second coming” of Jesus. The paragraph describes the destruction of the “city of the seven hills” (probably Rome) and a “terrible judge”. Weiss said that the joint interpretation of the day of the paragraph's day could be entirely deactivated; He could refer to a non-apocalyptic event and perhaps the judgment by the head of a nation.
Is the prophecy real?
John Hogue, who manages a blog on prophecies and sells “private readings”, appeared in the documentary of the history chain as a believer in prediction, calling it very precise.
In general, historical and religious scholars do not put much stock.
The time between the life of Malachy and the first historical mention of the prophecy is the first red flag of its authenticity, said Joëlle Rollo-Koster, professor of medieval history at the University of Rhode Island and principal publisher of “The Cambridge History of the Papacty”.
The real Malachy knew the Saint Bernard de Clairvaux, an “intellectual giant of the 12th century” and a credible witness, said Rollo-Koster. Bernard admired Malachy so much that he wrote a biography about him, but never mentioned any prophecy.
“As a historian, I am hardcore on evidence, and it is for me the ultimate proof that Malachy … did not pronounce prophecies or write prophecies,” she said.
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The so-called prophecy is so precise between the 1580s and the 1590s precisely because it was not written so far, said Weiss. Whoever wrote it had a great historical knowledge of the popes and chose Malachy, who was relatively obscure, as a prophet. Weiss said some researchers believe that the prophecy was written to support a cardinal who campaigned to be the next Pope.
Admittedly, some of the predictions since then are surprisingly relevant to the popes for which they align, said Weiss. For example, the prediction that aligns with Pope John Paul II, there are two popes, is “from the work of the sun”. John Paul II, in this case, was born during a solar eclipse and was buried during a solar eclipse, said Weiss.
Pope John Paul II speaking of the Papal Palace balcony to Castel Gandolfo, around 1980.
Others have very little to do with real popes, but believers tried to integrate them into the prophecy by “strangling evidence,” said Weiss. For example, “Swift Bear” referring to Pope Clément XIV in the 1700s has no resemblance to the real man, who was a slow, deliberate and undecided person, said Weiss.
Francis is he the last pope?
Francis was the 266th Pope of the Vatican history, but only the 101st Pope officially recognized by the Church since the time of Malachy. So why do people believe that it is 112nd and last pope referenced in prophecy?
This is because there were periods in the history of the Church when several leaders claimed to be the Pope at the same time, said Weiss. The believers in the prophecy of Malachy include some of these antipopes in the count – figures not officially recognized by the Vatican.
Francis does not correspond to the description “Peter the Roman” either. Some believe that because the father of Saint-François d'Assise has been named Pietro, or Peter, the prophecy still adapts, said Weiss. Pope Francis took his papal name from Francis d'Assise.
There is also a punctuation debated in the text of the prophecy which, according to some, suggests that there could be an indefinite number of additional popes after the 111th and before Peter the novel, said Weiss. He thinks it's really just a typo.
Anyway, you cut it, it is difficult to apply logic to something that is intrinsically illogical, said Rollo-Koster.
“It's difficult because you just try to play with the figures and rationalize when he is someone who invents this in the 16th century,” she said.
A conclave to select a new Pope should start on May 7, during which the cardinals blocked in the Sistine Chapel in Rome vote and vote and vote report their decisions to the public via colorful smoke. They will meet until the next pope is elected. All signs indicate a pope after Francis.
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As for the myth, Rollo-Koster said that the eras of history when people counted on prophecies reveal a lack of control over their life and their death. Today we have more scientific certainties, she said.
“The real test of faith is not in conspiracy theories and cloudy predictions, but in our ability to read the Gospels and interpret the signs of the time,” said Weiss. “This is the task of each Christian, and what Pope Francis has done brilliantly in his writings on peace, poverty and the safeguarding of the climate.”
This article originally appeared on USA Today: The last pope? Explained the prophecy of the Doomsday of St. Malachy.
