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Doomsayers Say Benedict Fits World End Prophecy

alledanalledan Member Posts: 19,541
edited April 2005 in General Discussion
Doomsayers Say Benedict Fits World End Prophecy

By Phil Stewart

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Benedict's ascent to the papacy took a conclave of 115 cardinals, four rounds of voting and followed a lifetime of service to the Vatican.

But ask Internet doomsayers eyeing a 12th century Catholic prophecy and they'll tell you it was all stitched up more than eight centuries ago and that judgment day is nigh.

The prophecy -- widely dismissed by scholars as a hoax -- is attributed to St. Malachy, an Irish archbishop recognized by members of the Church for his ability to read the future.

Benedict, believers say, fits the description of the second-to-last pope listed under the prophecy before the Last Judgement, when the bible says God separates the wicked from the righteous at the end of time.

"The Old Testament states: 'believe his prophets and you will prosper' -- so believe it. We are close to the return of the Judge of the nations. Christ is coming," wrote one Internet post by the Rev. Pat Reynolds.

"Thank God for the witness of St. Malachy."

St. Malachy was said to have had a vision during a trip to Rome around 1139 of the remaining 112 Popes. The new pope would be number 111 on that list, and is described in a text attributed to St. Malachy as the "Glory of the Olive."

To connect Benedict, a pale, bookish German, to anything olive takes some imagination. But Malachy-watchers point to the choice of the name Benedict -- an allusion to the Order of Saint Benedict, a branch of which is known as the Olivetans.

"When (he) chose the name Benedict XVI, this was seen as fulfilling the prophecy for this pope," wrote one entry on www.wikipedia.org.

Benedict said that he chose the name partly in honor of Pope Benedict XV (1914-1922), calling him a "courageous prophet of peace." On Wednesday, Benedict dedicated his papacy to "the service of reconciliation and harmony between peoples."

"Perhaps Benedict XVI will be a peacemaker in the Church or in the world, and thus carry the olive branch," speculated www.catholic-pages.com.

Another site, www.bibleprobe.com, went even further, showing a picture of Benedict holding olive branches in March during Palm Sunday celebrations.

"Is this the Pope of Peace (olive)?" it asked in the caption.

Critics widely dismiss the Malachy prophecy as a forgery and possible propaganda meant to influence a 16th century conclave. Doses of skepticism even appear on the most energetic Malachy web pages.

But believers point out similarities between the prophecy's descriptions and past pontificates. Pope John Paul II, number 110, was described in the prophecy as "de labore solis" -- or "of the labor of the sun."

He was born on May 18, 1920, the same day as a solar eclipse. The pontiff was buried on April 8, 2005 -- the same day as a partial eclipse, visible in the Americas.

More pressing for doomsayers are the prophecy's references to the last Pope on the list, Peter the Roman, who will lead the Church before "the formidable judge will judge his people."

Since Benedict is already 78 years old, they say Peter the Roman must be coming soon, and with him, the end of the world.

"His reign will only last a few years at most. This signals that we are living in what may be the end of days as we know it," said one Web Site entry by someone calling himself SmartBob.

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Comments

  • BlckhrnBlckhrn Member Posts: 5,136
    edited November -1
    Wonder how smartbob will feel 50 years and three popes from now?

    york.bmp"No taxation without representation, Join the NRA"
  • Gibbs505Gibbs505 Member Posts: 3,175
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Blckhrn
    Wonder how smartbob will feel 50 years and three popes from now?

    york.bmp"No taxation without representation, Join the NRA"


    Not very!

    If I can't spell, so what!

    Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
  • TRAP55TRAP55 Member Posts: 8,270 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Scary thing is, St. Malachy has been 100% on with his predictions, time will tell.[;)]

    7_2_120.gif
    "Aim small, Miss small"
  • He DogHe Dog Member Posts: 50,947 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Y2K was going to be the end of the world as I recall. Biggest nonevent I remember. There is always someone saying it is the end of the world. Hogwash.

    And Buckhorn, how about those folks that periodically give all of their material possions to the church and move off to the mountains to wait for the rapture, coming at 3:15 on Tuesday? Oops.
  • nordnord Member Posts: 6,106
    edited November -1
    So... I guess we needn't worry too much about global warming or alternate fuels?[;)]

    Nord
  • Colonel PlinkColonel Plink Member Posts: 16,460
    edited November -1
    I watched Penn & Teller's Showtime program last night. The topic was the end of the world. Those guys crack me up. Do you realize how many time the "end times" have been predicted? Yet people still buy into it. I mean literally "buy" into it. Armegeddon is big business, my friends, and every time you buy someone's book or how-to-build-your-own-nuclear-fallout-shelter instructions, they laugh at you. Just like P.T. Barnum did. All the way to the bank.

    "When the going gets weird, the Weird turn pro"
    Hunter S. Thompson"
  • 65gto38965gto389 Member Posts: 2,850 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I may be mistaken but the benedict's were the ones responsible for the spanish inquisition.









    " Those who give up a little freedom for temporary security, deserve neither freedom nor security "
    - Benjamin Franklin
  • select-fireselect-fire Member Posts: 69,453 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The sky is falling .. the sky is falling... I also had three eggs ( over easy ) with some catheads for breakfast. Something wasn't right with the eggs cause I thought it was the end of the world this morning at the gunshow. At least that is what some of the patrons said when a disqusting smell filled the aisle.
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