St. Malachy And The Prophecy Of The Popes

Author: Michael O'Brien
Special contributor: Aanica Guess

Lightning Striking the Basilica 

St. Malachy was the Irish Archbishop of Armagh in 1132.  As a saint, he was accredited with several miracles and was believed to hold profound psychic abilities.  Especially pertaining to the Vatican.  St. Malachy would go on to write down his visions whereby creating what is called, "The Prophecy of the Popes”.

From a dream, St. Malachy wrote his prophetic manuscript that consisted of a list of 112 illustrious pontiffs who would to go on to rule the Catholic Church until the end of time.  It goes on to list each pope’s importance to history and of course, predictions regarding each of him in short Latin diction.  These prophecies not only described each of the Roman Catholic popes to rise, but exposed the anti-popes as well.  St. Malachy noted these anti-popes began with Pope Celestine II and would conclude with the current Pope Benedict XVI's successor.

The abdicated pope [who is Pope Benedict XVI now] according to the Prophecy of the Popes is translated in short as "He will nominate a man who is described in the prophecy as "Peter the Roman”.  A pope whose pontificate will end in the destruction of the city of Rome."

St. Malachy was proven accurate in his prophecies.  Credibility to that statement might be found in the arguments that were made that St. Malachy addressed only 111 popes in his visions.  This contention would have made Pope John Paul II's successor, Pope Benedict XVI the final pope, aka, "The Beast.”  So it is understandable that the Benedictines would have invented pope 112 to dissociate their order from the, "Peter the Roman.”  However, little has been offered to substantiate the 111-pope theory and most believe that there were indeed, originally 112.

Therefore, you ask, "What does all of this have to do with me?”  Well, let us discuss for a moment what happened the last time the Catholic Church ran amuck with absolute omnipotence.

First, there were Dark Ages where the Catholic Church slaughtered over 150,000,000 Christians for their beliefs, or lack thereof.  Forgive this contemptible comparison but realize Hitler killed 6,000,000.  An overwhelming difference of 144,000,000 deaths.

Second, the Inquisition.  A tribunal established in 1480 by primarily Catholic Monarchs.  It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy by any means and lasted over seven centuries.  While it was officially abolished in 1834, it is said that the deaths or executions told ranged from 2,250 to 9,000,000.  Quite a variance, I understand.  However, the hands of the Catholic Church committed what deaths that did occur then.  Interestingly enough, the office of the Inquisition continues today under the name “Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith."

What of the churches behavior towards the Knights Templar, Jan Hus, John Wycliffe, Galileo, Joan of Arc, William Tyndale and during the Medieval Witch Hunts?  All of which were persecuted by the Catholic Church, if not tortured and executed for their beliefs.

Currently, the Catholic Church continues to deal with the constant shame of the rape and molestation of countless young boys.  What is worse, the fact that Catholic hierarchy insisted on covering up the allegations and secretively sending their Bishops to new communities with new victims.  My point is just how profoundly effective the Catholic Church was and continues to be in covering their atrocities for so many years.

Now we find ourselves preparing for a new pope to be named before Easter.  As I understand it, there are five front-runners for the position.  Ironically, three of which are Roman.

My guess would be either Cardinal Angelo Scola Archbishop of Milan or Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, Archbishop of Genoa, Italy will be chosen.  However, Cardinal Angelo Scola would be more in fitting with the prophecy of the Anti-Christ.  It is predicted that the anti-pope will win over the hearts and trust of the Muslim world in short time and then will corrupt it.  With that said, Scola is considered a top scholar on Islam and Muslim to Christian dialog.  In addition, that he is well prepared to deal with the challenges regarding Western secularism and materialism.  

Bagnasco is more along the lines of Pope Benedict's best friend as I understand it but he still had a fighting chance.

So, what would prompt a Catholic girl to write such an article?  It is simple really.  Just take a good look at the photos of lightening striking the top of the Vatican's St Peter's Basilica twice just hours after Pope Benedict XVI announced his confusing resignation.

While the majority made jokes about it, that incident spoke volumes to me.  It also begged to ask, "Is there any reality to St. Malachy's prophecy?”  "Is the Anti-Christ lurking in the shadows waiting to be announced and adored by millions?”  Better yet, could God have been unleashing the equivalent of, "Wake and realize!  Something wicked this way comes?"

I do not know but I am certain of this.  No newly elected pope in Rome in his right mind this year will choose to change his name to Peter.