Will the great apostasy start now that Pope Francis is here?
There are some that will make the case that this pope will be the last Roman Catholic pontiff – leading to what has been prophesied as the “great apostasy” and even the destruction of Rome.
For more than 800 years, scholars have pointed to the dark augury regarding “the last pope.” The prophecy, taken from St. Malachy’s “Prophecy of the Popes,” is among a list of verses predicting each of the Roman Catholic popes from Pope Celestine II to the final pope, “Peter the Roman,” whose reign would end in the destruction of Rome.
First published in 1595, the prophecies were attributed to St. Malachy by a Benedictine historian named Arnold de Wyon, who recorded them in his book “Lignum Vitæ.” Tradition holds that Malachy had been called to Rome by Pope Innocent II. While there, he experienced the vision of the future popes, including the last one, which he wrote down in a series of cryptic phrases.
According to the prophecy, the next pope is to be the final pontiff, Petrus Romanus or Peter the Roman. Some Catholics believe that the next pope on St. Malachy’s list heralds the beginning of “great apostasy” followed by “great tribulation,” setting the stage for the imminent unfolding of apocalyptic events, something many non-Catholics would agree with.
This would give rise to a false prophet, who according to the book of Revelation leads the world’s religious communities into embracing a political leader known as Antichrist. In recent history, several Catholic priests – some deceased now – have been surprisingly outspoken about what they have seen as this inevitable danger rising from within the ranks of Catholicism as a result of secret satanic “Illuminati-Masonic” influences.
These priests claim secret knowledge of a multinational power elite and occult hierarchy operating behind supranatural and global political machinations. Within this secret society are sinister false Catholic infiltrators who understand that as the Roman Catholic Church represents one-sixth of the world’s population and over half of all Christians, it is indispensable for controlling future global elements in matters of church and state. The dark forces seek to fulfill a diabolical plan they call “Alta Vendetta,” which is set to assume control of the papacy and to help the False Prophet deceive the world’s faithful (including Catholics) into worshipping the Antichrist. Catholic and evangelical scholars have dreaded this moment for centuries.
Unfortunately, the time just ran out.
By wnd.com Condensed from the book Petrus Romanus: The Final Pope Is Here
Pope Benedict Resigns!
The German-born Pope, 85, hailed as a hero by conservative Roman Catholics and viewed with suspicion by liberals, told cardinals in Latin that his strength had deteriorated recently. He will step down on February 28 and the Vatican expects a new Pope to be chosen by the end of March.
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the Pope had not decided to resign because of "difficulties in the papacy" and the move had been a surprise, indicating that even his inner circle was unaware that he was about to quit.
The Pope does not fear schism in the Church after his resignation, the spokesman said.
The Pope's leadership of 1.2 billion Catholics has been beset by child sexual abuse crises that tarnished the Church, one address in which he upset Muslims and a scandal over the leaking of his private papers by his personal butler.
The pope told the cardinals that in order to govern "...both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.
"For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter."
He also referred to "today's world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith."
The last Pope to resign willingly was Celestine V in 1294 after reigning for only five months, his resignation was known as "the great refusal" and was condemned by the poet Dante in the "Divine Comedy". Gregory XII reluctantly abdicated in 1415 to end a dispute with a rival claimant to the papacy.
"NO OUTSIDE PRESSURE," JUST ADVANCING AGE
Before he was elected Pope, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was known by such critical epithets as "God's rottweiler" because of his stern stand on theological issues.
But after several years into his new job Benedict showed that he not only did not bite but barely even barked.
In recent months, the pope has looked increasingly frail in public, sometimes being helped to walk by those around him.
Lombardi ruled out depression or uncertainty as being behind the resignation, saying the move was not due to any specific illness, just advancing age.
The Pope had shown "great courage, determination" aware of the "great problems the church faces today", he said, adding the timing may have reflected the Pope's desire to avoid the exhausting rush of Easter engagements.
There was no outside pressure and Benedict took his "personal decision" in the last few months, he added.
Israel's Chief Rabbi praised Benedict's inter-faith outreach and wished him good health. The Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the Anglican Church, said he had learned of the Pope's decision with a heavy heart but complete understanding.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the Pope's decision must be respected if he feels he is too weak to carry out his duties. British Prime Minister David Cameron said: "He will be missed as a spiritual leader to millions."
The pontiff would step down from 2 p.m. ET on February 28, leaving the office vacant until a successor was chosen to Benedict who succeeded John Paul, one of history's most popular pontiffs, the spokesman said.
Elected to the papacy on April 19, 2005 when he was 78 - 20 years older than John Paul was when he was elected - Benedict ruled over a slower-paced, more cerebral and less impulsive Vatican.
MEEK DEMEANOUR, STEELY INTELLECT
But while conservatives cheered him for trying to reaffirm traditional Catholic identity, his critics accused him of turning back the clock on reforms by nearly half a century and hurting dialogue with Muslims, Jews and other Christians.
Under the German's meek demeanor lay a steely intellect ready to dissect theological works for their dogmatic purity and debate fiercely against dissenters.
After appearing uncomfortable in the limelight at the start, he began feeling at home with his new job and showed that he intended to be Pope in his way.
Despite great reverence for his charismatic, globe-trotting predecessor -- whom he put on the fast track to sainthood and whom he beatified in 2011 -- aides said he was determined not to change his quiet manner to imitate John Paul's style.
A quiet, professorial type who relaxed by playing the piano, he managed to show the world the gentle side of the man who was the Vatican's chief doctrinal enforcer for nearly a quarter of a century.
The first German pope for some 1,000 years and the second non-Italian in a row, he traveled regularly, making about four foreign trips a year, but never managed to draw the oceanic crowds of his predecessor.
The child abuse scandals hounded most of his papacy. He ordered an official inquiry into abuse in Ireland, which led to the resignation of several bishops.
STRING OF SCANDALS
Scandal from a source much closer to home hit in 2012 when the pontiff's butler, responsible for dressing him and bringing him meals, was found to be the source of leaked documents alleging corruption in the Vatican's business dealings, causing an international furor.
He confronted his own country's past when he visited the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.
Calling himself "a son of Germany", he prayed and asked why God was silent when 1.5 million victims, most of them Jews, died there during World War Two.
Ratzinger served in the Hitler Youth during World War Two when membership was compulsory. He was never a member of the Nazi party and his family opposed Adolf Hitler's regime.
But his trip to Germany also prompted the first major crisis of his pontificate. In a university lecture he quoted a 14th century Byzantine emperor as saying Islam had only brought evil to the world and that it was spread by the sword.
After protests that included attacks on churches in the Middle East and the killing of a nun in Somalia, the Pope later said he regretted any misunderstanding the speech caused.
[JoA: Which of course disproved the allegation!]
In a move that was widely seen as conciliatory, in late 2006 he made a historic trip to predominantly Muslim Turkey and prayed in Istanbul's Blue Mosque with a Turkish Mufti.
But months later, former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami met the Pope and said wounds between Christians and Muslims were still "very deep" as a result of the Regensburg speech.
(Writing by Peter Millership; editing by Janet McBride and Ralph Boulton)
The Prophecies of Malachy?
| 167 | Celestine II (1143-1144) | 1 | Ex castro Tyberis (from a castle on the Tiber) Hist.: Celestin II was born in Citta di Castello, Toscany, on the shores of the Tiber |
| 168 | Lucius II (1144-1145) | 2 | Inimicus expulsus |
| 169 | Eugene III (1145-1153) | 3 | Ex magnitudine montis (Of the greatness of the mount) Hist.: Born in the castle of Grammont (latin: mons magnus), his family name was Montemagno |
| 170 | Anastasius IV (1153-1154) | 4 | Abbas Suburranus |
| 171 | Adrian IV (1154-1159) | 5 | De rure albo (field of Albe) Hist.: Born in the town of Saint-Alban |
| Antipope | Victor IV (1159-1164) | 6 | Ex tetro carcere |
| Antipope | Paschal III (1164-1168) | 7 | Via trans-Tyberina |
| Antipope | Calistus III (1168-1178) | 8 | De Pannonia Tusciæ |
| 172 | Alexander III (1159-1181) | 9 | Ex ansere custode |
| 173 | Lucius III (1181-1185) | 10 | Lux in ostio |
| 174 | Urban III (1185-1187) | 11 | Sus in cribo |
| 175 | Gregory VIII (1187) | 12 | Ensis Laurentii |
| 176 | Clement III (1187-1191) | 13 | De schola exiet |
| 177 | Celestine III (1191-1198) | 14 | De rure bovensi |
| 178 | Innocent III (1198-1216) | 15 | Comes signatus (signed Count) Hist.: descendant of the noble Signy, later called Segni family |
| 179 | Honorius III (1216-1227) | 16 | Canonicus de latere |
| 180 | Gregory IX (1227-1241) | 17 | Avis Ostiensis (Bird of Ostia) Hist.: before his election he was Cardinal of Ostia |
| 181 | Celestine IV (1241) | 18 | Leo Sabinus |
| 182 | Innocent IV (1243-1254) | 19 | Comes Laurentius |
| 183 | Alexander IV (1254-1261) | 20 | Signum Ostiense |
| 184 | Urban IV (1261-1264) | 21 | Hierusalem Campaniæ (Jerusalem of Champagne) Hist.: native of Troyes, Champagne, later patriarch of Jerusalem |
| 185 | Clement IV (1265-1268) | 22 | Draca depressus |
| 186 | Gregory X (1271-1276) | 23 | Anguinus vir |
| 187 | Innocent V (1276) | 24 | Concionatur Gallus |
| 188 | Adrian V (1276) | 25 | Bonus Comes |
| 189 | John XXI (1276-1277) | 26 | Piscator Tuscus |
| 190 | Nicholas III (1277-1280) | 27 | Rosa composita |
| 191 | Martin IV (1281-1285) | 28 | Ex teloneo liliacei Martini |
| 192 | Honorius IV (1285-1287) | 29 | Ex rosa leonina |
| 193 | Nicholas IV (1288-1292) | 30 | Picus inter escas |
| 194 | Nicholas IV (1288-1292) | 31 | Ex eremo celsus (elevated from a hermit) Hist.: prior to his election he was a hermit in the monastery of Pouilles |
| 195 | Boniface VIII (1294-1303) | 32 | Ex undarum benedictione |
| 196 | Benedict XI (1303-1304) | 33 | Concionator patereus |
| 197 | Clement V (1305-1314) | 34 | De fessis Aquitanicis (ribbon of Aquitaine) Hist.: was archbishop of Bordeaux in Aquitaine |
| 198 | John XXII (1316-1334) | 35 | De sutore osseo (of the cobbler of Osseo) Hist.: Family name Ossa, son of a shoe-maker |
| Antipope | Nicholas V (1328-1330) | 36 | Corvus schismaticus (the schismatic crow) Note the reference to the schism, the only antipope at this period |
| 199 | Benedict XII (1334-1342) | 37 | Frigidus Abbas (cold friar) Hist.: he was a priest in the monastery of Frontfroid (coldfront) |
| 200 | Clement VI (1342-1352) | 38 | De rosa Attrebatensi |
| 201 | Innocent VI (1352-1362) | 39 | De montibus Pammachii |
| 202 | Urban V (1362-1370) | 40 | Gallus Vice-comes |
| 203 | Gregory XI (1370-1378) | 41 | Novus de Virgine forti (novel of the virgin fort) Hist.: count of Beaufort, later Cardinal of Ste-Marie La Neuve |
| Antipope | Clement VII (1378-1394) | 42 | De cruce Apostilica |
| Antipope | Benedict XIII (1394-1423) | 43 | Luna Cosmedina |
| Antipope | Clement VIII (1423-1429) | 44 | Schisma Barcinonicum |
| 204 | Urban VI (1378-1389) | 45 | De Inferno pregnani(From the hell of Pregnani) Hist.: He was a town called Inferno in the region of Pregnani. |
| 205 | Boniface IX (1389-1404) | 46 | Cubus de mixtione |
| 206 | Innocent VII (1404-1406) | 47 | De meliore sydere |
| 207 | Gregory XII (1406-1415) | 48 | Nauta de ponte nigro |
| Antipope | Alexander V (1409-1410) | 49 | Flagellum Solis |
| Antipope | John XXIII (1410-1415) | 50 | Cervus Sirenæ |
| 208 | Martin V (1417-1431) | 51 | Corona veli aurei |
| 209 | Eugene IV (1431-1447) | 52 | Lupa cælestina |
| Antipope | Felix V (1439-1449) | 53 | Amator crucis |
| 210 | Nicholas V (1447-1455) | 54 | De modicitate lunæ |
| 211 | Callistus III (1455-1458) | 55 | Bos pascens (grazing ox) Hist.: Alphonse Borgia's arms sported a golden grazing ox |
| 212 | Pius II (1458-1464) | 56 | De capra et Albergo |
| 213 | Paul II (1464-1471) | 57 | De cervo et Leone |
| 214 | Sixtus IV (1471-1484) | 58 | Piscator Minorita |
| 215 | Innocent VIII (1484-1492) | 59 | Præcursor Siciliæ |
| 216 | Alexander VI (1492-1503) | 60 | Bos Albanus in portu |
| 217 | Pius III (1503) | 61 | De parvo homine |
| 218 | Julius II (1503-1513) | 62 | Fructus jovis juvabit |
| 219 | Leo X (1513-1521) | 63 | De craticula Politiana |
| 220 | Adrian VI (1522-1523) | 64 | Leo Florentius |
| 221 | Clement VII (1523-1534) | 65 | Flos pilæi ægri |
| 222 | Paul III (1534-1549) | 66 | Hiacynthus medicorum |
| 223 | Julius III (1550-1555) | 67 | De corona Montana |
| 224 | Marcellus II (1555) | 68 | Frumentum floccidum |
| 225 | Paul IV (1555-1559) | 69 | De fide Petri |
| 226 | Pius IV (1559-1565) | 70 | Æsculapii pharmacum |
| 227 | St. Pius V (1566-1572) | 71 | Angelus nemorosus |
| 228 | Gregory XIII (1572-1585) | 72 | Medium corpus pilarum |
| 229 | Sixtus V (1585-1590) | 73 | Axis in medietate signi |
| 230 | Urban VII (1590) | 74 | De rore cæli |
| 231 | Gregory XIV (1590-1591) | 75 | De antiquitate Urbis |
| 232 | Innocent IX (1591) | 76 | Pia civitas in bello |
| 233 | Clement VIII (1592-1605) | 77 | Crux Romulea |
| 234 | Leo XI (1605) | 78 | Undosus Vir |
| 235 | Paul V (1605-1621) | 79 | Gens perversa |
| 236 | Gregory XV (1621-1623) | 80 | In tribulatione pacis |
| 237 | Urban VIII (1623-1644) | 81 | Lilium et rosa |
| 238 | Innocent X (1644-1655) | 82 | Jucunditas crucis |
| 239 | Alexander VII (1655-1667) | 83 | Montium custos |
| 240 | Clement IX (1667-1669) | 84 | Sydus Olorum (constellation of swans) Hist.: upon his election, he was apparently the occupant of the Chamber of Swans in the Vatican. |
| 241 | Clement X (1670-1676) | 85 | De flumine magno |
| 242 | Innocent XI (1676-1689) | 86 | Bellua insatiabilis |
| 243 | Alexander VIII (1689-1691) | 87 | Pœnitentia gloriosa |
| 244 | Innocent XII (1691-1700) | 88 | Rastrum in porta |
| 245 | Clement XI (1700-1721) | 89 | Flores circumdati |
| 246 | Innocent XIII (1721-1724) | 90 | De bona Religione |
| 247 | Benedict XIII (1724-1730) | 91 | Miles in bello |
| 248 | Clement XII (1730-1740) | 92 | Columna excelsa |
| 249 | Benedict XIV (1740-1758) | 93 | Animal rurale |
| 250 | Clement XIII (1758-1769) | 94 | Rosa Umbriæ |
| 251 | Clement XIV (1769-1774) | 95 | Ursus velox |
| 252 | Pius VI (1775-1799) | 96 | Peregrinus Apostolicus |
| 253 | Pius VII (1800-1823) | 97 | Aquila rapax |
| 254 | Leo XII (1823-1829) | 98 | Canis et coluber |
| 255 | Pius VIII (1829-1830) | 99 | Vir religiosus |
| 256 | Gregory XVI (1831-1846) | 100 | De balneis hetruriæ (bath of Etruria) Hist.: prior to his election he was member of an order founded by Saint Romuald, at Balneo, in Etruria, present day Toscany. |
| 257 | Pius IX (1846-1878) | 101 | Crux de cruce (Cross of Crosses) Hist.:Pius XI was the last Pope to reign over the Papal States (the middle third of what is today Italy). He ended up being a prisoner of the Vatican, never venturing outside Vatican City. A much heavier burden than his predecessors. |
| 258 | Leo XIII (1878-1903) | 102 | Lumen in cælo<BR.>(Light in the Heavens) Hist.: Leo XIII wrote encyclicals on Catholic social teaching that were still being digested 100 years later. He added considerably to theology. |
| 259 | St. Pius X (1903-1914) | 103 | Ignis ardens (ardent fire) Hist.: The Pope had great personal piety and achieved a number of important reforms in the devotional and liturgical life of priests and laypeople. |
| 260 | Benedict XV (1914-1922) | 104 | Religio depopulata (Religion laid waste) Hist.: This Pope reigned during the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia which store the establishment of Communism. |
| 261 | Pius XI (1922-1939) | 105 | Fides intrepida (Intrepid faith) Hist.: This Pope stood up to Fascist and Communist forces lining up against him in the lead up to World War II. |
| 262 | Pius XII (1939-1958) | 106 | Pastor angelicus (Angelic Shepherd) Hist.: This Pope was very mystical, and is believed to have received visions. People would kneel when they received telephone calls from him. His encyclicals add enormously to the understanding of Catholic beliefs (even if they are now overlooked because of focus on the Second Vatican Council, which occurred so soon after his reign). |
| 263 | John XXIII (1958-1963) | 107 | Pastor et Nauta (pastor and marine) Hist.: prior to his election he was patriarch of Venice, a marine city, home of the gondolas |
| 264 | Paul VI (1963-1978) | 108 | Flos florum (flower of flowers) Hist.: his arms displayed three lilies. |
| 265 | John Paul I (1978) | 109 | De medietate Lunæ (of the half of the moon) Hist.: Albino Luciani, born in Canale d'Agardo, diocese of Belluno, (beautiful moon) Elected pope on August 26, his reign lasted about a month, from half a moon to the next half... |
| 266 | John Paul II (1978-2005) | 110 | De labore Solis (of the eclipse of the sun, or from the labour of the sun) Hist.: Karol Wojtyla was born on May 18, 1920 during a solar eclipse. He also comes from behind the former Iron Curtain (the East, where the Sun rises). He might also be seen to be the fruit of the intercession of the Woman Clothed with the Sun labouring in Revelation 12 (because of his devotion to the Virgin Mary). His Funeral occurred on 8 April, 2005 when there was a solar eclipse visible in the Americas. |
| 267 | Benedict XVI (2005-2013) | 111 | Gloria olivæ Proponents of the prophecies generally try to draw a connection between Benedict and the Olivetan order to explain this motto: Benedict's choice of papal name is after Saint Benedict of Nursia, founder of the Benedictine Order, of which the Olivetans are one branch. Other explanations make reference to him has being a pope dedicated to peace and reconciliations of which the olive branch is the symbol. |
| In persecutione extrema S.R.E. sedebit Petrus Romanus, qui pascet oves in multis tribulationibus: quibus transactis civitas septicollis diruetur, & Judex tremêdus judicabit populum suum. Finis. (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.) |