07-13-2009, 05:35 PM
As you may have heard or read, predictions concerning the year 2012--mostly involving harrowing catastrophes or even final calamity--abound in books, on internet websites and now even in Hollywood.
I once worked with a woman who visited the famed (or notorious, depending upon your perspective) Lily Dale community in Upstate New York. One could compare Lily Dale to a Chautauqua for seers, mystics, Tarrot card readers, witches and other assorted individuals of that ilk. Upon her return from Lily Dale, my co-worker told me that she had had her fortune told by several palm-readers and other sorts of prognosticators of one's future, but found it strange and disturbing that not one of them could read her future past the year 2012.
I responded with my very frank opinion (shocking, right?) that they were all a bunch of frauds who were all well aware of the doomsday "prohecies" of the year 2012, as anyone who has surfed the net for more than five minutes cannot escape them. My cynicism did not impress her and she concluded that the end of time was imminent.
One of the more popular prophecies concerning the 'end of time' scenario is that of St. Malachy, who allegedly prophesied a list of 111 popes to follow the man who was pope at the time of his prohecy, Pope Innocent II. He didn't come out and name anybody, of course; he just gave a little phrase describing each pontificate. Like the quattrains of Nostradamus, these little phrases can mean almost anything to anyone, and therefore can likewise be applied to anyone.
Despite the obvious fradulence of the Prophecy of St. Malachy, there are plenty of true believers; and of those true believers, some stand out as more devoted than the rest.
Take one Ronald Conte, for example. He has read and diagnosed this prophecy to death and now knows it better than old Malachy, himself. In fact, whereas St. Malachy stops at Pope 111 (since Innocent II), labeled by the prophecy as "De Gloria Olivae" (Pope Benedict XVI), Mr. Conte accepts the 19th century forgery concerning "Peter the Roman" as pope #112...and then keeps right on going...and going, and going, and going. Right on up to the year 2430 in fact. And not just with cryptic phrases, either; no sir: he's got the whole thing figured out in minute detail. According to Mr. Conte, 2012 is no end at all but just the beginning.
Interestingly, Mr. Conte did, during the lifetime of Pope John Paul II, predict that the next pope would be called "Benedict XVI" and that he would name himself that in honour of both St. Benedict and Pope Benedict XV who reigned during the First World War. Right on all counts. Impressive. He also predicted that Pope Benedict XVI would be a renowned ecumenist. Mmmm...I'm thinking he may be off in that regard. But who knows? He's still got time to change...but not much. Mr. Conte kills off poor Pope Benedict in the year 2011, just in time for the famed "Peter the Roman" to make his long-anticipated entrance onto history's stage.
And guess who's coming to dinner. Move over President Obama.
Take a look...
THE FUTURE AND THE POPES
Ronald L. Conte, Jr.
About the year A.D. 1139, Saint Malachy O'Morgair, Archbishop of Armagh, Ireland, wrote down a list of Popes. He listed 112 future Popes, each described by a phrase in Latin. [1] There has been increasing interest in this list among Roman Catholics, for two reasons. First, the descriptions of Popes #109 and #110 match the pontificates of Popes John Paul I and John Paul II to a tee. Second, there are only two more Popes on the list, and the last Pope on the list is given a long apocalyptic description, instead of a quaint and cryptic phrase.
Pope John Paul I
Pope #109 on St. Malachy's list is given the phrase: “From the Half of the Moon.” [2] Pope John Paul I was elected on August 26 of 1978, when the moon was in its last quarter (i.e. half the moon was visible in the sky). He died on September 28, when the moon was again in its last quarter. [3] The length of his Pontificate was only 33 days, a little more than the length of one lunar cycle. St. Malachy's prophecy matches John Paul I's Pontificate well.
Pope John Paul II
Pope #110 on St. Malachy's list is given the phrase: “From the Labor of the Sun.” [4] What kind of labor does the sun do? The sun's work, so to speak, is to travel around the earth. The sun constantly travels around the world (ed note: it does???). And so does Pope John Paul II. He is the most traveled Pope in history. His Pontificate is marked by his constant travels around the world. St. Malachy's phrase fits John Paul II's Pontificate precisely.
The First Pope After John Paul II
Pope #111 on St. Malachy's list is given the phrase: “From the Glory of the Olive.” This prophetic phrase has several meanings which correctly apply to the next Pope after John Paul II.
a. What is the glory of the olive? The olive branch is a well-known symbol of peace. The glory of the olive is peace. The next Pope after John Paul II will be a man of great peace. Peace will be his banner, peace will be his work, peace will be his goal. He will seek peace among individuals, among nations, among Catholics, between Catholics and other Christians, and between Catholics and adherents of other religions. The next Pope after John Paul II will have a Pontificate distinguished for seeking Peace around the world. He is correctly called the Pope of Peace.
St. Malachy's prophecy about John Paul II fit his Pontificate well, once it began. But, before being elected Pope, Karol Wojtyla did not distinguish himself by traveling constantly. The next Pope after John Paul II may not have distinguished himself yet in works of peace-making. Or, he may have distinguished himself in peace-making in God's eyes, but not yet in the eyes of the world.
b. Some say that this prediction of St. Malachy, “From the Glory of the Olive,” refers to the Order of St. Benedict, because they have a well-known group within their order called the 'Olivetans.' There is some merit to this idea. But it does not mean that this Pope will come from the Order of St. Benedict, but rather that he will take the name of Saint Benedict and will live in imitation of him.
c. The next Pope after John Paul II will take the name Pope Benedict XVI, in imitation of Saint Benedict and also of Pope Benedict XV. Just as Pope Benedict XV was an emissary of peace, so will Pope Benedict XVI be an emissary of peace. Just as Pope Benedict XV sought peace and spoke of peace and wrote papal documents seeking peace, so will Pope Benedict XVI do also. Just as Pope Benedict XV failed to achieve peace in the world, so will Pope Benedict XVI fail to achieve peace in the world. Just as the Pontificate of Benedict XV began prior to World War I, so will the Pontificate of Benedict XVI occur prior to World War III. After the Pontificate of Benedict XVI, World War III will begin. The Arab nations will threaten and attack the United States; they will threaten, attack, invade and conquer Europe; they will threaten, attack, invade and conquer the northern part of Africa. It is God's will.
d. Pope Benedict XVI will be like Saint Benedict, who lived in the fifth and sixth centuries. He will be a man dedicated to peace and holiness. There is another Saint Benedict, a well-known Saint called Saint Benedict the Black (il moro santo, the holy Moor). Pope Benedict XVI will also be like Saint Benedict the Black. Pope Benedict XVI will be a black man, like Saint Benedict the Moor. He will be a holy Pope, who reinforces the teaching of the Church in opposition to the errors of modern culture. [Note added April 19, 2005: I was mistaken when I thought that the next pope after John Paul II would be black. I am fallible. My predictions are also fallible. By the way, the prediction that the next pope after John Paul II would be black is not a figure of speech, nor a metaphor. I was simply wrong.]
Ed note: Don't be too quick to flagellate yourself, Mr. Conte. Pope Benedict XVI famously and strangely put the head of a Black Moor on the shield of his coat of arms. Spooky.
The Coat of Arms of Pope Benedict XVI may be seen here:
http://www.ewtn.com/pope/life/arms.asp
e. Pope Benedict XVI is mentioned in Sacred Scripture, in a hidden manner. (this section updated on June 12, 2009)
“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.” (Mt 17:1-8).
This passage from Sacred Scripture describes both a true historical event, which occurred to Jesus and his disciples, and a future event which will occur in the Church. Concerning the future event, the figures of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah represent Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The transfiguration of Jesus represents a transfiguring event in the Christian Church. Peter represents the Pope of that time.
The Church will experience an event that will begin to transfigure the Church to greater holiness. Pope Benedict XVI will be Pope at that time. Very soon after that event, Pope Benedict XVI will suggest to the world that three booths, that is, three places, be built in Jerusalem: a Temple, a Church, and a Mosque. He will suggest that the city of Jerusalem become a place of peace and of worship for all three religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Luke's Gospel adds a comment about Peter's suggestion: “not knowing what he said” (Luke 9:33). This suggestion of Pope Benedict XVI will not take place, at least not anytime in the near future. Instead of peace, war will break out. First a small war will occur among the Arab nations (A.D. 2010). Then, a great war will begin between the Arab nations and the western nations, later that same year.
When the transfiguration of Jesus was completed, they arose and saw only Jesus. When the initial transfiguration of the Church is accomplished (by A.D. 2040), Christianity will be the dominant religion in Israel and in Jerusalem and in the world. When the transfiguration of the Church on earth is mature (in the mid 25th century A.D.), Christianity will be the only religion on earth. In that future time, everyone on earth will be a Catholic Christian.
f. Pope Benedict XVI will die prior to, or at the very beginning of, World War III. Therefore, he will die in either 2010 or early 2011. His reign will be short, like the reign of the holy Pope who reigns after him. I am not certain when Pope Benedict's reign will begin. He must have some number of years in his brief reign, to accomplish his tasks of peace-making.
The Pope After Benedict XVI (this section updated on May 10, 2006)
This Pope will be Cardinal Francis Arinze, and he will take the name Pope Pius XIII
Pope #112 on St. Malachy's list is given this description: “In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there shall reign Peter the Roman who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the terrible judge will judge the people.” [6]
Why is he called Peter the Roman? The descriptions given for John Paul I and II were about their Pontificates, not about their lives before they were elected Pope. Peter the Roman will not be someone born in Rome, nor who grew up in Rome. He is not of Italian or Roman descent. The expression “Peter the Roman” refers to his Pontificate.
As a description of his Pontificate, the phrase “Peter the Roman” indicates that this Pope will reaffirm the authority of the Roman Pontiff over the Church; this authority is based on his place as a Successor of Peter. The expression also indicates that this Pope will reaffirm Rome as the proper seat of authority in the Church and require the faithful to acknowledge “the holy, Catholic, and apostolic Roman Church as the mother and teacher of all churches.” [7] His predecessor, the Pope of Peace (Pope Benedict XVI), will emphasize the good in other faiths and the unity among all peoples. But Peter the Roman will emphasize the supremacy of the Roman Catholic Faith and the Roman Catholic Church above all other religions and denominations, and its authority over all Christians and all peoples of the world.
During the reign of Pope Peter the Roman, the great apostasy begins. The great apostasy is divided into two parts: one part during the first part of the tribulation, during our generation, and the other part during the second part of the tribulation in the distant future (25th century A.D.). The great apostasy for our generation begins during Pope Peter the Roman's reign; he requires the faithful to believe and practice the Catholic Faith in order to be able to receive holy Communion. Most Catholics abandon the faith because of this requirement. The vast majority of laypersons leave the Faith during the great apostasy, along with very many religious, many priests, a large minority of Bishops, and several Cardinals. Some of these try to establish their own perverse version of the Catholic Faith, with their own Bishops and priests. After the reign of Peter the Roman ends, they even try to elect their own pope (but he is nothing but an antipope).
This Pope is also called Peter the Roman because he will be, not the last Pope, not the last Pope to rule from Rome, but rather the last Pope for about a generation (until the 2040's) to rule from Rome. (A successor of his will try to rule from Rome, but he will be killed there.).
Some have suggested that this Pope might take the name Pope Peter II. Formerly, I also thought that he might take this name. But no Pope has chosen the name Peter since Christ gave that name to Simon bar-Jonah, who became Saint Peter, leader of the Apostles and the first Pope of the Church. “Peter the Roman” is an expression describing his Pontificate, not a statement as to which name he will take.
I think that this Pope will take the name Pope Pius XIII. An earlier Pope Pius X saw a vision of a successor of his, who had the same name (i.e. Pius), fleeing Rome over the dead bodies of members of the clergy. Pope Peter the Roman will flee Vatican City and Rome during World War 3; many members of the clergy will be killed during that time period. Pope Peter the Roman is the Pope foreseen by Pope Pius X; therefore, he will take the name Pope Pius XIII, not the name Peter II.
I think that this Pope will be none other than Cardinal Francis Arinze. He fits the description of a Pope who would emphasize the Roman Catholic Faith and the authority of the Roman Pontiff. He was also predicted to become Pope one day by a private revelation to a group of women who pray for priests, Bishops, and the Pope; this group is called the Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity. One of them called Claire Rose wrote this: “I saw Cardinal Francis Arinze with the Pope's Hat on his head. The tall hat. He was smiling!”
Pope Benedict XVI will die in either 2010 or early 2011, so the election of Pope Peter the Roman will take place in either 2010 or early 2011.
Some people think that Peter the Roman will be the last Pope ever and that the world will end during his Pontificate. No, not so! Peter the Roman is merely the last Pope on this list by St. Malachy, not the last Pope ever. The time of Peter the Roman's Pontificate is described in Apocalyptic terms because His Pontificate will see the beginning of the events described in the Book of Revelation, especially the beginning of World War 3 (which is the first of the seven seals and the first of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse). But the events described in that last book of the Bible unfold over many years and the sufferings of Revelation do not reach completion until the mid 25th century. There will be many more Popes between Peter the Roman and the Return of Christ in A.D. 2437.
The seven-hilled city is the city of Rome, which not only has seven hills, but also is divided into seven Roman Catholic dioceses. St. Malachy is predicting that the city of Rome will be destroyed during the Pontificate of the Pope called Peter the Roman. My own interpretation of the Bible places the beginning of the destruction of Rome and Vatican City during his Pontificate, but the greater destruction of Vatican City and Rome occurs in July of A.D. 2013, during the brief reign of Peter the Roman's successor.
The prediction of Saint Malachy that Rome will be destroyed has a dual meaning. It refers to the destruction of Rome and Vatican City during World War 3, at the beginning of the lesser tribulation, and it refers to the destruction of Rome and the seat of authority in the Church at the beginning of the greater tribulation (about the year A.D. 2430, just prior to the start of the Antichrist's reign). That is why his prophecy says that God will judge the people, because both times that Rome is destroyed occur prior to a part of the tribulation (which is divided into two parts), in which God judges and punishes the world.
Peter the Roman is also mentioned in Sacred Scripture. He will die a martyr, blind, in a prison in Iraq.
“ 'And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder in the dark, and shall go forth; he shall dig through the wall and go out through it.... And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare; and I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it; and he shall die there.' ” (Ezekiel 12:12.13).
“So the city was besieged.... Then a breach was made in the city; the king with all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the king's garden, though the Chaldeans were around the city.... But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and overtook him.... Then they captured the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, who passed sentence upon him. They slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and took him to Babylon.” (2 Kings 25:2.4-7).
During the war of the Arabs against Europe (World War III), the Arab forces will attack Italy and Rome. At that time, in the year 2012, the Pope will be forced to flee the Vatican. He will have waited too long to flee successfully. He will carry his own baggage on his shoulder. He will flee “by the way of the gate between the two walls” of the Vatican by night accompanied by members of the clergy (“the sons of Zedekiah”) and guarded by soldiers. They are able to get away from Vatican City, but they will not reach safety. They will be pursued by Arab forces.
The Pope and the clergy with him will be taken captive by the Arab forces. They will be taken to Syria (Riblah is an ancient city in Syria) and put on trial. The leader of Iraq (“king of Babylon”) will pass judgment against the Pope and the clergy who were captured with him and also some members of the clergy of Syria. They will slaughter these members of the clergy as the Pope watches. Next, they will put out the eyes of the Pope, so that the last thing he sees is the death of his fellow clergy. Then they will bind the Pope in fetters and take him to Iraq, where he will be imprisoned. The phrase “yet he shall not see it” means that he will be held prisoner without being able to see the country in which he is held captive because he has been blinded. The Pope will die in a prison in Iraq with no one to rescue him. This Pope, Peter the Roman, will die a martyr for the Faith. (What an unusual time we live in, when Sacred Scripture itself tells us about one Pope after another.)
A Pope and An Antipope (this section updated on May 10, 2006)
The successor to Peter the Roman will be elected sometime before July of 2013. He will be a validly elected Pope, the true Pope. However, about the same time, there will be an antipope, a man who falsely claims to be pope, who will have much support worldwide. This situation is caused by the great apostasy, which began during the reign of Peter the Roman. See my article on these two disputed elections.
When the Allies recapture Rome during World War 3 (in late 2012 or early 2013), both of these men will want to go to Rome, each to support his claim to be the true pope. In July of 2013, they will both be in Rome when the Arab forces strike the city with a nuclear missile. Both men shall be killed. There is a Scripture passage which reveals this:
{Daniel 13:7} Awake, O spear, against my shepherd and against the man that clings to me, says the Lord of hosts. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. And I will turn my hand to the little ones.
The spear is a nuclear missile. The man called 'my shepherd' is the true Pope. And 'the man that clings to me' [i.e. to Christ] is the antipope. This antipope is not evil; he is not the antichrist; he is not led by the devil; he is simply misguided and mistaken to a great extent.
Subsequent Popes
Between July of 2013 and the Unification of all the Christian Churches in one holy Catholic Church in the early 2020's, there will be one or two other Popes. And after that, the formerly-Protestant Pope is elected.
The formerly-Protestant Pope (updated August 21, 2006)
In the late 2010's, the Protestant Churches will move towards unification with the Catholic Church. This process of repentance and conversion and unification will take years. In the early 2020's, the Catholic Church will be restructured into seven parts, five parts for the formerly Protestant Churches, one part for the Eastern Churches, one part for the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. After that, there will be elected a Pope who is not a Roman Catholic. He will be elected about the year 2022. He will be a convert from one of the Protestant Churches. He will be Catholic, but not from the Latin Rite of the Church. The formerly-Protestant Catholics will be pleased. His election will show them that they are truly and fully members of the one holy Catholic Church. But many Roman Catholics will be upset at his election and at the unification of the Protestant Churches with the Catholic Church. An Ecumenical Council, held from about 2028 to 2032, will reaffirm the validity of the unification of the Churches in one Catholic Church and will deal with the problems caused by unification.
The Angelic Shepherd (updated August 20, 2006)
The Arabs forces will win World War III and will occupy a vast territory for many years. They will oppress and persecute Christians. In the 2030's, this persecution will become very severe. The Arab forces will massacre many Christians. They will hunt down priests and religious and devout Catholics to imprison, torture, and kill them. Millions of Catholic Christians will be killed. This massacre will take place over several years.
In the mid to late 2030's, in World War IV, the Allied nations will attack the lands occupied by the Arab forces. This war will be even more severe than World War III. Many nuclear weapons will be used. The Allies will win the war, at such great cost, and defeat the Arabs even in their own lands. One of the principle Allied leaders is called the great monarch. After the war is won, and after a series of extreme punishments from God upon the whole world, the great monarch will rule over a vast territory (over the lands previously occupied by the Arab forces). Beginning in A.D. 2040, the great monarch will rebuild this territory, and help rebuild the rest of the world, together with the Pope of that time, called the Angelic Shepherd.
The Angelic Shepherd will be a holy Pope and a true Saint. God will grant many miracles in answer to his prayers. His Pontificate will be long and very blessed. The Church will have great success in preaching the Gospel and in winning the conversion of sinners during his reign. This Pope, and the Church in general, will have much influence over the secular leaders of the whole world. The Angelic Shepherd will be from Croatia (not Medjugorje, as I formerly thought). He will have visited Medjugorje and will believe in the apparitions there.
According to a prophecy from Abbot Joachim (d. 1202), the Angelic Shepherd will take a name as Pope which will begin with the letter 'R'. I believe that this Pope will be named Pope Raphael, because of his concern for the spiritual, emotional, and physical healing of people, and because the world will be healed during his reign (after the three days of darkness). The name Raphael is the only name of an Angel mentioned in the Bible which begins with 'R.' This explains also why this Pope is called Angelic. So far, no Pope has taken the name of one of the three holy Angels mentioned in the Bible (Raphael, Michael, Gabriel). After the Angelic Shepherd, Pope Raphael, a number of Popes will take the names of holy Angels; this is why some prophecies say that the Angelic Shepherd is one man, but other prophecies say that there will be several such Angelic Shepherds within the same time period.
I am convinced that the Angelic Shepherd is Fr. Zlatko Sudac of Krk Island in Croatia. He was miraculously marked by God with a cross on his forehead. This is either a foreshadowing of the Seal of Revelation (Rev. 7:3), or it is the Seal itself, not merely a foreshadowing. This priest has the stigmata and other miraculous signs associated with him.
The Last Pope Before the Return of Christ
There will be many Popes between the Pontificate of the Angelic Shepherd and the last Pope before the Return of Christ. Some of these will be holy, and some will be mediocre, and some will be sinners. The last Pope before the Return of Christ will be killed by the followers of the Antichrist about the year A.D. 2430. He will be killed, most likely in Rome, before the Antichrist gains power over the whole world. He will be killed about the time of a war between the kingdom of the North (Europe) and the kingdom of the South (Israel, the Middle East, northern Africa). The king of the South at that time will be a Catholic Christian.
There will be no more Popes on earth during the nearly seven years of the Antichrist's reign over the world. No more Popes will be elected. The governments of the world, controlled by the Antichrist will not allow such an election. The Bishops of the world, those few who are not dead or imprisoned, will not be able to meet or communicate with one another to elect a new Pope. Actually, it is God's will that no Pope be elected during this time, for Christ will Return at the end of the Antichrist's reign to set everything in order and to begin a long period of peace and holiness on earth. The Church will be without a Pope for seven years prior to the Return of Christ. Christ is the true head of the one holy Catholic Church. The Pope is merely His servant and ours.
Ronald L. Conte Jr.
November 14, 2004
Copyright 2004
[This article has been revised a number of times, most recently in June of 2009.]
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Endnotes:
1. Edward Connor, Prophecy for Today, (TAN Books, 1984). See this book for a list of the 112 Popes and some background on Saint Malachy's prophesy.
2. Edward Connor, Prophecy for Today, (TAN Books, 1984).
3. In 1978, the relevant dates/times for last quarter moons were: Aug. 25, 12:17 U.T. and Sep. 24, 05:07 U.T. The moon appears as a half moon during first and last quarter. The four phases of the moon (new moon, first quarter, full moon, last quarter) are often said to last about a week each.
4. Edward Connor, Prophecy for Today, (TAN Books, 1984).
5. Edward Connor, Prophecy for Today, (TAN Books, 1984).
6. Edward Connor, Prophecy for Today, (TAN Books, 1984).
7. First Vatican Council, Profession of Faith.
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Read the book: The Bible and the Future of the World, or visit Future Blog for more.
I once worked with a woman who visited the famed (or notorious, depending upon your perspective) Lily Dale community in Upstate New York. One could compare Lily Dale to a Chautauqua for seers, mystics, Tarrot card readers, witches and other assorted individuals of that ilk. Upon her return from Lily Dale, my co-worker told me that she had had her fortune told by several palm-readers and other sorts of prognosticators of one's future, but found it strange and disturbing that not one of them could read her future past the year 2012.
I responded with my very frank opinion (shocking, right?) that they were all a bunch of frauds who were all well aware of the doomsday "prohecies" of the year 2012, as anyone who has surfed the net for more than five minutes cannot escape them. My cynicism did not impress her and she concluded that the end of time was imminent.
One of the more popular prophecies concerning the 'end of time' scenario is that of St. Malachy, who allegedly prophesied a list of 111 popes to follow the man who was pope at the time of his prohecy, Pope Innocent II. He didn't come out and name anybody, of course; he just gave a little phrase describing each pontificate. Like the quattrains of Nostradamus, these little phrases can mean almost anything to anyone, and therefore can likewise be applied to anyone.
Despite the obvious fradulence of the Prophecy of St. Malachy, there are plenty of true believers; and of those true believers, some stand out as more devoted than the rest.
Take one Ronald Conte, for example. He has read and diagnosed this prophecy to death and now knows it better than old Malachy, himself. In fact, whereas St. Malachy stops at Pope 111 (since Innocent II), labeled by the prophecy as "De Gloria Olivae" (Pope Benedict XVI), Mr. Conte accepts the 19th century forgery concerning "Peter the Roman" as pope #112...and then keeps right on going...and going, and going, and going. Right on up to the year 2430 in fact. And not just with cryptic phrases, either; no sir: he's got the whole thing figured out in minute detail. According to Mr. Conte, 2012 is no end at all but just the beginning.
Interestingly, Mr. Conte did, during the lifetime of Pope John Paul II, predict that the next pope would be called "Benedict XVI" and that he would name himself that in honour of both St. Benedict and Pope Benedict XV who reigned during the First World War. Right on all counts. Impressive. He also predicted that Pope Benedict XVI would be a renowned ecumenist. Mmmm...I'm thinking he may be off in that regard. But who knows? He's still got time to change...but not much. Mr. Conte kills off poor Pope Benedict in the year 2011, just in time for the famed "Peter the Roman" to make his long-anticipated entrance onto history's stage.
And guess who's coming to dinner. Move over President Obama.
Take a look...
THE FUTURE AND THE POPES
Ronald L. Conte, Jr.
About the year A.D. 1139, Saint Malachy O'Morgair, Archbishop of Armagh, Ireland, wrote down a list of Popes. He listed 112 future Popes, each described by a phrase in Latin. [1] There has been increasing interest in this list among Roman Catholics, for two reasons. First, the descriptions of Popes #109 and #110 match the pontificates of Popes John Paul I and John Paul II to a tee. Second, there are only two more Popes on the list, and the last Pope on the list is given a long apocalyptic description, instead of a quaint and cryptic phrase.
Pope John Paul I
Pope #109 on St. Malachy's list is given the phrase: “From the Half of the Moon.” [2] Pope John Paul I was elected on August 26 of 1978, when the moon was in its last quarter (i.e. half the moon was visible in the sky). He died on September 28, when the moon was again in its last quarter. [3] The length of his Pontificate was only 33 days, a little more than the length of one lunar cycle. St. Malachy's prophecy matches John Paul I's Pontificate well.
Pope John Paul II
Pope #110 on St. Malachy's list is given the phrase: “From the Labor of the Sun.” [4] What kind of labor does the sun do? The sun's work, so to speak, is to travel around the earth. The sun constantly travels around the world (ed note: it does???). And so does Pope John Paul II. He is the most traveled Pope in history. His Pontificate is marked by his constant travels around the world. St. Malachy's phrase fits John Paul II's Pontificate precisely.
The First Pope After John Paul II
Pope #111 on St. Malachy's list is given the phrase: “From the Glory of the Olive.” This prophetic phrase has several meanings which correctly apply to the next Pope after John Paul II.
a. What is the glory of the olive? The olive branch is a well-known symbol of peace. The glory of the olive is peace. The next Pope after John Paul II will be a man of great peace. Peace will be his banner, peace will be his work, peace will be his goal. He will seek peace among individuals, among nations, among Catholics, between Catholics and other Christians, and between Catholics and adherents of other religions. The next Pope after John Paul II will have a Pontificate distinguished for seeking Peace around the world. He is correctly called the Pope of Peace.
St. Malachy's prophecy about John Paul II fit his Pontificate well, once it began. But, before being elected Pope, Karol Wojtyla did not distinguish himself by traveling constantly. The next Pope after John Paul II may not have distinguished himself yet in works of peace-making. Or, he may have distinguished himself in peace-making in God's eyes, but not yet in the eyes of the world.
b. Some say that this prediction of St. Malachy, “From the Glory of the Olive,” refers to the Order of St. Benedict, because they have a well-known group within their order called the 'Olivetans.' There is some merit to this idea. But it does not mean that this Pope will come from the Order of St. Benedict, but rather that he will take the name of Saint Benedict and will live in imitation of him.
c. The next Pope after John Paul II will take the name Pope Benedict XVI, in imitation of Saint Benedict and also of Pope Benedict XV. Just as Pope Benedict XV was an emissary of peace, so will Pope Benedict XVI be an emissary of peace. Just as Pope Benedict XV sought peace and spoke of peace and wrote papal documents seeking peace, so will Pope Benedict XVI do also. Just as Pope Benedict XV failed to achieve peace in the world, so will Pope Benedict XVI fail to achieve peace in the world. Just as the Pontificate of Benedict XV began prior to World War I, so will the Pontificate of Benedict XVI occur prior to World War III. After the Pontificate of Benedict XVI, World War III will begin. The Arab nations will threaten and attack the United States; they will threaten, attack, invade and conquer Europe; they will threaten, attack, invade and conquer the northern part of Africa. It is God's will.
d. Pope Benedict XVI will be like Saint Benedict, who lived in the fifth and sixth centuries. He will be a man dedicated to peace and holiness. There is another Saint Benedict, a well-known Saint called Saint Benedict the Black (il moro santo, the holy Moor). Pope Benedict XVI will also be like Saint Benedict the Black. Pope Benedict XVI will be a black man, like Saint Benedict the Moor. He will be a holy Pope, who reinforces the teaching of the Church in opposition to the errors of modern culture. [Note added April 19, 2005: I was mistaken when I thought that the next pope after John Paul II would be black. I am fallible. My predictions are also fallible. By the way, the prediction that the next pope after John Paul II would be black is not a figure of speech, nor a metaphor. I was simply wrong.]
Ed note: Don't be too quick to flagellate yourself, Mr. Conte. Pope Benedict XVI famously and strangely put the head of a Black Moor on the shield of his coat of arms. Spooky.
The Coat of Arms of Pope Benedict XVI may be seen here:
http://www.ewtn.com/pope/life/arms.asp
e. Pope Benedict XVI is mentioned in Sacred Scripture, in a hidden manner. (this section updated on June 12, 2009)
“And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain apart. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is well that we are here; if you wish, I will make three booths here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking, when lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with awe. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.” (Mt 17:1-8).
This passage from Sacred Scripture describes both a true historical event, which occurred to Jesus and his disciples, and a future event which will occur in the Church. Concerning the future event, the figures of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah represent Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. The transfiguration of Jesus represents a transfiguring event in the Christian Church. Peter represents the Pope of that time.
The Church will experience an event that will begin to transfigure the Church to greater holiness. Pope Benedict XVI will be Pope at that time. Very soon after that event, Pope Benedict XVI will suggest to the world that three booths, that is, three places, be built in Jerusalem: a Temple, a Church, and a Mosque. He will suggest that the city of Jerusalem become a place of peace and of worship for all three religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Luke's Gospel adds a comment about Peter's suggestion: “not knowing what he said” (Luke 9:33). This suggestion of Pope Benedict XVI will not take place, at least not anytime in the near future. Instead of peace, war will break out. First a small war will occur among the Arab nations (A.D. 2010). Then, a great war will begin between the Arab nations and the western nations, later that same year.
When the transfiguration of Jesus was completed, they arose and saw only Jesus. When the initial transfiguration of the Church is accomplished (by A.D. 2040), Christianity will be the dominant religion in Israel and in Jerusalem and in the world. When the transfiguration of the Church on earth is mature (in the mid 25th century A.D.), Christianity will be the only religion on earth. In that future time, everyone on earth will be a Catholic Christian.
f. Pope Benedict XVI will die prior to, or at the very beginning of, World War III. Therefore, he will die in either 2010 or early 2011. His reign will be short, like the reign of the holy Pope who reigns after him. I am not certain when Pope Benedict's reign will begin. He must have some number of years in his brief reign, to accomplish his tasks of peace-making.
The Pope After Benedict XVI (this section updated on May 10, 2006)
This Pope will be Cardinal Francis Arinze, and he will take the name Pope Pius XIII
Pope #112 on St. Malachy's list is given this description: “In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there shall reign Peter the Roman who will feed his flock amid many tribulations, after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the terrible judge will judge the people.” [6]
Why is he called Peter the Roman? The descriptions given for John Paul I and II were about their Pontificates, not about their lives before they were elected Pope. Peter the Roman will not be someone born in Rome, nor who grew up in Rome. He is not of Italian or Roman descent. The expression “Peter the Roman” refers to his Pontificate.
As a description of his Pontificate, the phrase “Peter the Roman” indicates that this Pope will reaffirm the authority of the Roman Pontiff over the Church; this authority is based on his place as a Successor of Peter. The expression also indicates that this Pope will reaffirm Rome as the proper seat of authority in the Church and require the faithful to acknowledge “the holy, Catholic, and apostolic Roman Church as the mother and teacher of all churches.” [7] His predecessor, the Pope of Peace (Pope Benedict XVI), will emphasize the good in other faiths and the unity among all peoples. But Peter the Roman will emphasize the supremacy of the Roman Catholic Faith and the Roman Catholic Church above all other religions and denominations, and its authority over all Christians and all peoples of the world.
During the reign of Pope Peter the Roman, the great apostasy begins. The great apostasy is divided into two parts: one part during the first part of the tribulation, during our generation, and the other part during the second part of the tribulation in the distant future (25th century A.D.). The great apostasy for our generation begins during Pope Peter the Roman's reign; he requires the faithful to believe and practice the Catholic Faith in order to be able to receive holy Communion. Most Catholics abandon the faith because of this requirement. The vast majority of laypersons leave the Faith during the great apostasy, along with very many religious, many priests, a large minority of Bishops, and several Cardinals. Some of these try to establish their own perverse version of the Catholic Faith, with their own Bishops and priests. After the reign of Peter the Roman ends, they even try to elect their own pope (but he is nothing but an antipope).
This Pope is also called Peter the Roman because he will be, not the last Pope, not the last Pope to rule from Rome, but rather the last Pope for about a generation (until the 2040's) to rule from Rome. (A successor of his will try to rule from Rome, but he will be killed there.).
Some have suggested that this Pope might take the name Pope Peter II. Formerly, I also thought that he might take this name. But no Pope has chosen the name Peter since Christ gave that name to Simon bar-Jonah, who became Saint Peter, leader of the Apostles and the first Pope of the Church. “Peter the Roman” is an expression describing his Pontificate, not a statement as to which name he will take.
I think that this Pope will take the name Pope Pius XIII. An earlier Pope Pius X saw a vision of a successor of his, who had the same name (i.e. Pius), fleeing Rome over the dead bodies of members of the clergy. Pope Peter the Roman will flee Vatican City and Rome during World War 3; many members of the clergy will be killed during that time period. Pope Peter the Roman is the Pope foreseen by Pope Pius X; therefore, he will take the name Pope Pius XIII, not the name Peter II.
I think that this Pope will be none other than Cardinal Francis Arinze. He fits the description of a Pope who would emphasize the Roman Catholic Faith and the authority of the Roman Pontiff. He was also predicted to become Pope one day by a private revelation to a group of women who pray for priests, Bishops, and the Pope; this group is called the Brides of the Most Blessed Trinity. One of them called Claire Rose wrote this: “I saw Cardinal Francis Arinze with the Pope's Hat on his head. The tall hat. He was smiling!”
Pope Benedict XVI will die in either 2010 or early 2011, so the election of Pope Peter the Roman will take place in either 2010 or early 2011.
Some people think that Peter the Roman will be the last Pope ever and that the world will end during his Pontificate. No, not so! Peter the Roman is merely the last Pope on this list by St. Malachy, not the last Pope ever. The time of Peter the Roman's Pontificate is described in Apocalyptic terms because His Pontificate will see the beginning of the events described in the Book of Revelation, especially the beginning of World War 3 (which is the first of the seven seals and the first of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse). But the events described in that last book of the Bible unfold over many years and the sufferings of Revelation do not reach completion until the mid 25th century. There will be many more Popes between Peter the Roman and the Return of Christ in A.D. 2437.
The seven-hilled city is the city of Rome, which not only has seven hills, but also is divided into seven Roman Catholic dioceses. St. Malachy is predicting that the city of Rome will be destroyed during the Pontificate of the Pope called Peter the Roman. My own interpretation of the Bible places the beginning of the destruction of Rome and Vatican City during his Pontificate, but the greater destruction of Vatican City and Rome occurs in July of A.D. 2013, during the brief reign of Peter the Roman's successor.
The prediction of Saint Malachy that Rome will be destroyed has a dual meaning. It refers to the destruction of Rome and Vatican City during World War 3, at the beginning of the lesser tribulation, and it refers to the destruction of Rome and the seat of authority in the Church at the beginning of the greater tribulation (about the year A.D. 2430, just prior to the start of the Antichrist's reign). That is why his prophecy says that God will judge the people, because both times that Rome is destroyed occur prior to a part of the tribulation (which is divided into two parts), in which God judges and punishes the world.
Peter the Roman is also mentioned in Sacred Scripture. He will die a martyr, blind, in a prison in Iraq.
“ 'And the prince who is among them shall lift his baggage upon his shoulder in the dark, and shall go forth; he shall dig through the wall and go out through it.... And I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare; and I will bring him to Babylon in the land of the Chaldeans, yet he shall not see it; and he shall die there.' ” (Ezekiel 12:12.13).
“So the city was besieged.... Then a breach was made in the city; the king with all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the king's garden, though the Chaldeans were around the city.... But the army of the Chaldeans pursued the king, and overtook him.... Then they captured the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, who passed sentence upon him. They slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him in fetters, and took him to Babylon.” (2 Kings 25:2.4-7).
During the war of the Arabs against Europe (World War III), the Arab forces will attack Italy and Rome. At that time, in the year 2012, the Pope will be forced to flee the Vatican. He will have waited too long to flee successfully. He will carry his own baggage on his shoulder. He will flee “by the way of the gate between the two walls” of the Vatican by night accompanied by members of the clergy (“the sons of Zedekiah”) and guarded by soldiers. They are able to get away from Vatican City, but they will not reach safety. They will be pursued by Arab forces.
The Pope and the clergy with him will be taken captive by the Arab forces. They will be taken to Syria (Riblah is an ancient city in Syria) and put on trial. The leader of Iraq (“king of Babylon”) will pass judgment against the Pope and the clergy who were captured with him and also some members of the clergy of Syria. They will slaughter these members of the clergy as the Pope watches. Next, they will put out the eyes of the Pope, so that the last thing he sees is the death of his fellow clergy. Then they will bind the Pope in fetters and take him to Iraq, where he will be imprisoned. The phrase “yet he shall not see it” means that he will be held prisoner without being able to see the country in which he is held captive because he has been blinded. The Pope will die in a prison in Iraq with no one to rescue him. This Pope, Peter the Roman, will die a martyr for the Faith. (What an unusual time we live in, when Sacred Scripture itself tells us about one Pope after another.)
A Pope and An Antipope (this section updated on May 10, 2006)
The successor to Peter the Roman will be elected sometime before July of 2013. He will be a validly elected Pope, the true Pope. However, about the same time, there will be an antipope, a man who falsely claims to be pope, who will have much support worldwide. This situation is caused by the great apostasy, which began during the reign of Peter the Roman. See my article on these two disputed elections.
When the Allies recapture Rome during World War 3 (in late 2012 or early 2013), both of these men will want to go to Rome, each to support his claim to be the true pope. In July of 2013, they will both be in Rome when the Arab forces strike the city with a nuclear missile. Both men shall be killed. There is a Scripture passage which reveals this:
{Daniel 13:7} Awake, O spear, against my shepherd and against the man that clings to me, says the Lord of hosts. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered. And I will turn my hand to the little ones.
The spear is a nuclear missile. The man called 'my shepherd' is the true Pope. And 'the man that clings to me' [i.e. to Christ] is the antipope. This antipope is not evil; he is not the antichrist; he is not led by the devil; he is simply misguided and mistaken to a great extent.
Subsequent Popes
Between July of 2013 and the Unification of all the Christian Churches in one holy Catholic Church in the early 2020's, there will be one or two other Popes. And after that, the formerly-Protestant Pope is elected.
The formerly-Protestant Pope (updated August 21, 2006)
In the late 2010's, the Protestant Churches will move towards unification with the Catholic Church. This process of repentance and conversion and unification will take years. In the early 2020's, the Catholic Church will be restructured into seven parts, five parts for the formerly Protestant Churches, one part for the Eastern Churches, one part for the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. After that, there will be elected a Pope who is not a Roman Catholic. He will be elected about the year 2022. He will be a convert from one of the Protestant Churches. He will be Catholic, but not from the Latin Rite of the Church. The formerly-Protestant Catholics will be pleased. His election will show them that they are truly and fully members of the one holy Catholic Church. But many Roman Catholics will be upset at his election and at the unification of the Protestant Churches with the Catholic Church. An Ecumenical Council, held from about 2028 to 2032, will reaffirm the validity of the unification of the Churches in one Catholic Church and will deal with the problems caused by unification.
The Angelic Shepherd (updated August 20, 2006)
The Arabs forces will win World War III and will occupy a vast territory for many years. They will oppress and persecute Christians. In the 2030's, this persecution will become very severe. The Arab forces will massacre many Christians. They will hunt down priests and religious and devout Catholics to imprison, torture, and kill them. Millions of Catholic Christians will be killed. This massacre will take place over several years.
In the mid to late 2030's, in World War IV, the Allied nations will attack the lands occupied by the Arab forces. This war will be even more severe than World War III. Many nuclear weapons will be used. The Allies will win the war, at such great cost, and defeat the Arabs even in their own lands. One of the principle Allied leaders is called the great monarch. After the war is won, and after a series of extreme punishments from God upon the whole world, the great monarch will rule over a vast territory (over the lands previously occupied by the Arab forces). Beginning in A.D. 2040, the great monarch will rebuild this territory, and help rebuild the rest of the world, together with the Pope of that time, called the Angelic Shepherd.
The Angelic Shepherd will be a holy Pope and a true Saint. God will grant many miracles in answer to his prayers. His Pontificate will be long and very blessed. The Church will have great success in preaching the Gospel and in winning the conversion of sinners during his reign. This Pope, and the Church in general, will have much influence over the secular leaders of the whole world. The Angelic Shepherd will be from Croatia (not Medjugorje, as I formerly thought). He will have visited Medjugorje and will believe in the apparitions there.
According to a prophecy from Abbot Joachim (d. 1202), the Angelic Shepherd will take a name as Pope which will begin with the letter 'R'. I believe that this Pope will be named Pope Raphael, because of his concern for the spiritual, emotional, and physical healing of people, and because the world will be healed during his reign (after the three days of darkness). The name Raphael is the only name of an Angel mentioned in the Bible which begins with 'R.' This explains also why this Pope is called Angelic. So far, no Pope has taken the name of one of the three holy Angels mentioned in the Bible (Raphael, Michael, Gabriel). After the Angelic Shepherd, Pope Raphael, a number of Popes will take the names of holy Angels; this is why some prophecies say that the Angelic Shepherd is one man, but other prophecies say that there will be several such Angelic Shepherds within the same time period.
I am convinced that the Angelic Shepherd is Fr. Zlatko Sudac of Krk Island in Croatia. He was miraculously marked by God with a cross on his forehead. This is either a foreshadowing of the Seal of Revelation (Rev. 7:3), or it is the Seal itself, not merely a foreshadowing. This priest has the stigmata and other miraculous signs associated with him.
The Last Pope Before the Return of Christ
There will be many Popes between the Pontificate of the Angelic Shepherd and the last Pope before the Return of Christ. Some of these will be holy, and some will be mediocre, and some will be sinners. The last Pope before the Return of Christ will be killed by the followers of the Antichrist about the year A.D. 2430. He will be killed, most likely in Rome, before the Antichrist gains power over the whole world. He will be killed about the time of a war between the kingdom of the North (Europe) and the kingdom of the South (Israel, the Middle East, northern Africa). The king of the South at that time will be a Catholic Christian.
There will be no more Popes on earth during the nearly seven years of the Antichrist's reign over the world. No more Popes will be elected. The governments of the world, controlled by the Antichrist will not allow such an election. The Bishops of the world, those few who are not dead or imprisoned, will not be able to meet or communicate with one another to elect a new Pope. Actually, it is God's will that no Pope be elected during this time, for Christ will Return at the end of the Antichrist's reign to set everything in order and to begin a long period of peace and holiness on earth. The Church will be without a Pope for seven years prior to the Return of Christ. Christ is the true head of the one holy Catholic Church. The Pope is merely His servant and ours.
Ronald L. Conte Jr.
November 14, 2004
Copyright 2004
[This article has been revised a number of times, most recently in June of 2009.]
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Endnotes:
1. Edward Connor, Prophecy for Today, (TAN Books, 1984). See this book for a list of the 112 Popes and some background on Saint Malachy's prophesy.
2. Edward Connor, Prophecy for Today, (TAN Books, 1984).
3. In 1978, the relevant dates/times for last quarter moons were: Aug. 25, 12:17 U.T. and Sep. 24, 05:07 U.T. The moon appears as a half moon during first and last quarter. The four phases of the moon (new moon, first quarter, full moon, last quarter) are often said to last about a week each.
4. Edward Connor, Prophecy for Today, (TAN Books, 1984).
5. Edward Connor, Prophecy for Today, (TAN Books, 1984).
6. Edward Connor, Prophecy for Today, (TAN Books, 1984).
7. First Vatican Council, Profession of Faith.
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