OK many centuries ago St-Malachy wrote a bunch of prophecies basically enumerating the popes to come using a code word. Depending on who you believe there was 111 or 112 of them and according to most people Pope John Paul II was
De labore Solis and number # 110
now that left 111:
Gloria olivęand possibly 112 that is
In persecutione extrema S.R.E. sedebit Petrus Romanus, qui pascet oves in multis tribulationibus: quibus transactis civitas septicollis diruetur, & Judex tremźdus judicabit populum suum. Finis.
or in translation
In extreme persecution, the seat of the Holy Roman Church will be occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed the sheep through many tribulations, at the term of which the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the formidable Judge will judge his people. The End.
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now Gloria olivę means glory of the olives.
also Saint Benedict himself prophesied that before the end of the world his Order, known also as the Olivetans, will triumphantly lead the Catholic Church in its fight against evil.
now is it coincidence that he picked Benedict XVI as his name or are we at the last or before last pope before the end of something? Who knows.
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now assuming the predictions are real and all it gets a bit messy. From 1-111 all you got was a short description like
De labore Solis or
Gloria olivę also the predictions surfaced 4 centuries after they were written. Some people think 112 was just added (by Benedictine monks), others think 112 is JC as described in the apocalypse and 111 is the last Pope. Others ask does 112 follow right after 111 or not (they were not numbered that way in the predictions, so in theory even if 111 does come before 112 is there place for 111b, 11c or other Popes between what is thought as 111 and 112
This message was edited by Anthony on 04/20/05 11:53 ET.