The Last Pope

The resignation of Pope Benedict XVI has once again stirred talk of “the Last Pope.”  I vaguely remembered talk of this several years before and so, I had to investigate.  Apparently, many people believe that the next pope will be the last pope.  This is tied into speculation that this is the beginning of the end of the world.  Some believe that the next pope will be The False Prophet of Revelation.

The speculation is based on the predictions of St. Malachy (d. 1148) an Irish bishop who, when he fist saw Rome, fell into a trance-like state and produced a list of 112 popes identified by short Latin phrases.  Benedict is the 111^th pope since that date making the next pope number 112, whom Malacy describes as “Petrus Romanus.  (Peter the Roman)”

Those who are believers in the list insist that it is eerily accurate,  They cite the phrase for the 106^th pope, “Pastor Angelicus.”  This would be Pope Pius XII. 

“Piscator minorita,” (“The minorite fisherman”) is used of Pope Sixtus IV (1471-1484), who was a member of the Friars Minor and the son of a fisherman.

“De rure alba,” (“drom a white country”).  The Englishman, Pope Adrian IV (1154-1159) was born in England, which in ancient times was known as Albion.

Of the Pope known as John Paul II, Malachy declares “de labore Solis,” (“from the labor of the sun,” “of the eclipse of the sun.”  Karol Wojtyla (John Paul II) was born during a solar eclipse.

The manuscript recording Malachy’s phrases was locked in the Vatican for four hundred years.  When it was discovered again in 1595, the Catholic Church declared it to be fraudulent.  Some declared it to be an outright 16^th century forgery.   Modern commentators point out that many of the Latin phrases have to be “creatively” viewed to fit their intended popes.  Also, about 10% just cannot be made to “fit,” thus failing one of the tests of true prophecy.  Bernard of Clairvaux, who was a personal friend and biographer of Malachy makes no mention of the prophecies.

Some who believe that the next pope will be the last, bring in the prophecies of Nostradamus (Century 5 Quatrain 49 of “Les Propheties.”).

“a l’ennemy sera faicte fiancé,
Qui dans son regne ser peste cruelle.”
(“He will make a promise to the enemy,
Who will cause great plague during his reign.”)

Notice something here.  All of this is extra-biblical!

Remember also that we are expressly forbidden to set dates for the return of Christ.