What follows is an analysis of the “prophecy of the popes” attributed to St. Malachy (1094-1148).
This page contains raw data for the analysis.
The proposed explanations are taken from Wikipedia.
Click here for my own report on the reliability of the prophecy.
| Hit/Miss | Motto (Translation) | Pope | Proposed Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIT | 1. From a castle of the Tiber (Ex castro Tiberis) | 167. Celestine II, |
An inhabitant of Tifernum. (1) Born in Citta di Castello, Umbria, on the banks of the Tiber. (2) |
| HIT | 2. Enemy expelled (Inimicus expulsus) | 168. Lucius II, |
Of the Caccianemici family. (1) This motto refers to Gherardo Caccianemici’s surname. “Cacciare” means “to hunt”, and “nemici” is the Italian word for “enemies”. As his name foreshadowed, Caccianemici would be driven from Rome by his own subjects. (2) |
| HIT | 3. Out of the greatness of the mountain (Ex magnitudine motis) | 169. Eugene III, |
Tuscan by nation, from the town of Montemagno. (1) The motto refers to Pope Eugene’s last name, “Montemagno.”(2) |
| HIT | 4. Suburran abbot (Abbas Suburranus) | 170. Anastasius IV, |
From the Suburra family. (1) |
| HIT | 5. From the white countryside (De rure albo) | 171. Adrian IV, |
Humbly born in the town of St. Albans. (1) Educated at the St Albans School in Hertfordshire. Nicholas Breakspear was the bishop of Albano before becoming pope. [NOTE: “Albus” is “white” in Latin—ja](2) |
| HIT | 6. Out of a loathsome prison. (Ex tetro carcere) | Victor IV, Antipope, |
He was a cardinal of St. Nicholas in the Tullian prison. (1) |
| HIT | 7. Road across the Tiber. (Via Transtiberina) | Paschal III, Antipope, |
Guido of Crema, Cardinal of St. Mary across the Tiber. (1) As a cardinal, he had held the title of Santa Maria in Trastevere. (2) |
| HIT | 8. From Tusculan Hungary (De Pannonia Thusciae) | Callixtus III, Antipope, |
Antipope. A Hungarian by birth, Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum. (1) He was John, Abbot of Struma, originally from Hungary. (2) |
| HIT | 9. Out of the guardian goose (Ex ansere custode) | 172. Alexander III, |
Of the Paparoni family. (1) His family’s coat of arms had a goose on it. (2) |
| HIT | 10. A light in the entrance (Lux in ostio) | 173. Lucius III, |
A Luccan Cardinal of Ostia. (1) In 1159, he became Cardinal Bishop of Ostia. Lux may also be a wordplay on Lucius. (2) |
| HIT | 11. Pig in a sieve (Sus in cribro) | 174. Urban III, |
A Milanese, of the Cribella (Crivelli) family, which bears a pig for arms. (1) His family name Crivelli means “a sieve” in Italian. (2) |
| HIT | 12. The sword of St. Lawrence (Ensis Laurentii) | 175. Gregory VIII, 1187 (Alberto De Morra) | Cardinal of St. Lawrence in Lucina, of whom the arms were curved swords. (1) He had been the Cardinal of St. Lawrence and his armorial bearing was a drawn sword. (2) |
| HIT | 13 He will come from school (De Schola exiet) | 176. Clement III, |
A Roman, of the house of Scolari. (1) His family name was Scolari. (2) |
| HIT | 14. From cattle country (De rure bouensi) | 177. Celestine III, |
Bovensis (Bobone) family. (1) He was from the Bobone family; a wordplay on cattle (boves). (2) |
| HIT | 15. Designated count (Comes Signatus) | 178. Innocent III, |
Family of the Counts of Signia (Segni)(1) Descendant of the Segni family. (2) |
| HIT | 16. Canon from the side (Canonicus de latere) | 179. Honorius III, |
Savelli family, canon of St. John Lateran(1) He was a canon for the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, and had served as papal chamberlain in 1188. (2) |
| HIT | 17. Bird of Ostia (Auis Ostiensis) | 180. Gregory IX, |
Family of the Counts of Segni, Cardinal Bishop of Ostia. (1) Before his election to the papacy, Ugolino dei Conti was the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia, and the family coat of arms bear a bird on a gules background. (2) |
| HIT | 18. Sabine Lion (Leo Sabinus) | 181. Celestine IV, 1241 (Goffredo Castiglioni) | A Milanese, whose arms were a lion, Cardinal Bishop of Sabina. (1) He was Cardinal Bishop of Sabina and his armorial bearing had a lion in it. Also a play on words, referring to the pope’s last name, Castiglioni. (2) |
| HIT | 19. Count Lawrence (Comes Laurentius) | 182. Innocent IV, |
Of the house of Flisca (Fieschi), Count of Lavagna, Cardinal of St. Lawrence in Lucina. (1) He was the Cardinal-Priest of San Lorenzo in Lucca, and his father was the Count of Lavagna. (2) |
| HIT | 20. Sign of Ostia (Signum Ostiense) | 183. Alexander IV, |
Of the counts of Segni, Cardinal Bishop of Ostia. (1) He was Cardinal Bishop of Ostia and member of the Conti-Segni family. (2) |
| HIT | 21. Jerusalem of Champagne (Hierusalem Campanie) | 184. Urban IV, |
A Frenchman, of Trecae (Troyes) in Champagne, Patriarch of Jerusalem. (1) Native of Troyes, Champagne, later patriarch of Jerusalem. (2) |
| HIT | 22. Dragon pressed down (Draco depressus) | 185. Clement IV, |
Whose badge is an eagle holding a dragon in his talons. (1) His coat of arms had an eagle crushing a dragon. (2) |
| HIT | 23. Snaky man (Anguinus uir) | 186. Gregory X, |
A Milanese, of the family of Viscounts (Visconti), which bears a snake for arms. (1) The Visconti coat of arms had a large serpent devouring a male child feet first. (2) |
| HIT | 24. French Preacher (Concionator Gallus) | 187. Innocent V, 1276 (Pierre de Tarentaise) | A Frenchman, of the Order of Preachers. He was born in south-eastern France and was a member of the order of Preachers. (1) |
| HIT | 25. Good Count/companion (Bonus Comes) | 188. Adrian V, 1276 (Ottobono Fieschi) | Ottobono, of the Fieschi family, from the counts of Lavagna. (1) He was a count and a wordplay on “good” can be made with his name, Ottobono. (2) |
| HIT | 26. Tuscan Fisherman (Piscator Thuscus) | 189. John XXI, |
Formerly John Peter, Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum. (1) John XXI had been the Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum. (2) |
| HIT | 27. Composite Rose (Rosa composita) | 190. Nicholas III, |
Of the Ursina (Orsini) family, which bears a rose on its arms, called ‘composite’. (1) He bore a rose in his coat of arms. (2) |
| HIT | 28. From the tollhouse of lilied Martin (Ex teloneo liliacei Martini) | 191. Martin IV, |
Whose arms were lilies, canon and treasurer of St. Martin of Tours. (1) He was Canon and Treasurer at the Church of St. Martin in Tours, France. (2) |
| HIT | 29. Out of the leonine rose (Ex rosa leonina) | 192. Honorius IV, |
Of the Sabella (Savelli) family, arms were a rose carried by lions. (1) His coat of arms were emblazoned with two lions supporting a rose. (2) |
| VAGUE | 30. Woodpecker between food (Picus inter escas) | 193. Nicholas IV, |
A Picene by nation, of Asculum (Ascoli). (1) He was from Ascoli, now called Ascoli Piceno, in Picene country. (2) |
| HIT | 31. Raised out of the desert (Ex eremo celsus) | 194. St. Celestine V, 1294 (Pietro Di Murrone) | Called Peter de Morrone, a hermit. (1) Prior to his election he was a hermit (eremita, literally a dweller in the eremus, or desert). Also a play on words (celsus/Coelestinus), referring to the pope’s chosen name Celestine. (2) |
| HIT | 32. From the blessing of the waves (Ex undaru benedictione) | 195. Boniface VIII, |
Previously called Benedict, of Gaeta, whose arms were waves. (1) His coat of arms had a wave through it. Also a play on words, referring to the pope’s Christian name, “Benedetto.”(2) |
| HIT | 33. Preacher From Patara (Concionator patereus [sic]) | 196. Benedict XI, |
Who was called Brother Nicholas, of the order of Preachers. (1) This Pope belonged to the Order of Preachers. Patara was the hometown of Saint Nicholas, a namesake of this Pope (born Nicholas Boccasini). (2) |
| HIT | 34. From the misfortunes/fesses of Aquitaine (De fessis aquitanicis) | 197. Clement V, |
An Aquitanian by birth, whose arms were fesses. (1) He was a native of St. Bertrand de Comminges in Aquitaine, and eventually became Archbishop of Bordeaux, also in Aquitaine. His coat of arms displays three horizontal bars, known in heraldry as fesses. (2) |
| HIT | 35. From a bony cobbler (De sutore osseo) | 198. John XXII, |
A Frenchman, of the Ossa family, son of a cobbler. (1) His family name was Dueze, D’Euze, D’Euzes, or Euse, the last of which might be back-translated into Latin as Ossa “bones”. The popular legend that his father was a cobbler is probably untrue. (2) |
| HIT | 36. Schismatic crow (Coruus schismaticus) | Nicholas V, Antipope, |
Who was called Brother Peter of Corbarium (Corvaro), the Minorite antipope opposing John XXII. (1) The motto is a play on words, referring to Pietro di Corvaro’s last name. (2) |
| HIT | 37. Cold abbot (Frigidus Abbas) | 199. Benedict XII, |
Abbot of the monastery of the cold spring. (1) He was an abbot in the monastery of Fontfroide (“cold spring”). (2) |
| HIT | 38. From the rose of Arras (De rosa Attrebatensi) | 200. Clement VI, |
Bishop of Arras, whose arms were roses. (1) He was Bishop of Arras, (Latin: Episcopus Atrebatensis), and his armorial bearings were emblazoned with six roses. (2) |
| HIT | 39. From the mountains of Pammachius (De motibus Pamachii) | 201. Innocent VI, |
Cardinal of Saints John and Paul, Titulus of Pammachius, whose arms were six mountains. (1) Pope Innocent was born at Mont in the diocese of Limoges, France, and he rose to prominence as the Bishop of Clermont. He had been a cardinal priest with the title of St. Pammachius (i.e., the church of SS. Giovanni e Paolo in Rome)(2) |
| HIT | 40. French viscount (Gallus Vicecomes) | 202. Urban V, |
Apostolic nuncio to the Viscounts of Milan. (1) He was born of a noble French family. (2) |
| HIT | 41. New man from the strong virgin (Nouus de uirgine forti) | 203. Gregory XI, |
Who was called Peter Belfortis (Beaufort), Cardinal of New St. Mary’s. (1) From the Beaufort family and Cardinal of Santa Maria Nuova(2) |
| VAGUE | 42. From the apostolic cross (Decruce Apostolica [sic]) | Clement VII, Antipope, |
Who was Cardinal Priest of the Twelve Holy Apostles, whose arms were a cross. (1) His coat of arms showed a cross, quarterly pierced. (2) |
| HIT | 43. Cosmedine moon. (Luna Cosmedina) | Benedict XIII, Antipope, |
Formerly Peter de Luna, Cardinal Deacon of St. Mary in Cosmedin. (1) He was the famous Peter de Luna, Cardinal of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. (2) |
| HIT | 44. Schism of the Barcelonas (Schisma Barchinoniu) | Clement VIII, Antipope, |
Antipope, who was a canon of Barcelona. (1) |
| HIT | 45. From a pregnant hell. (De inferno praegnati) | 204. Urban VI, |
The Neapolitan Prignano, born in a place which is called Inferno. (1) His family name was Prignano or Prignani, and he was native to a place called Inferno near Naples. (2) |
| HIT | 46. Cube from a mixture (Cubus de mixtione) | 205. Boniface IX, |
Of the Tomacelli family, born in Genoa in Liguria, whose arms were cubes. (1) His coat of arms includes a bend checky — a wide stripe with a checkerboard pattern. (2) |
| HIT | 47. From a better star (De meliore sydere) | 206. Innocent VII, |
Called Cosmato dei Migliorati of Sulmo, whose arms were a star. (1) The prophecy is a play on words, “better” (melior) referring to the pope’s last name, Migliorati (Meliorati). There is a shooting star on his coat of arms. (2) |
| HIT | 48. Sailor from a black bridge (Nauta de Ponte nigro) | 207. Gregory XII, |
A Venetian, commendatary of the church of Negroponte. (1) Was Bishop of Venice and the Bishop of Chalcice, Chalcice being located on the Isle of Negropont(2) |
| HIT | 49. Whip of the sun (Flagellum solis) | Alexander V, Antipope, |
A Greek, Archbishop of Milan, whose arms were a sun. (1) His coat of arms had a large sun on it. Also, a play on words, referring to the pope’s last name, “Philarges.”(2) |
| HIT | 50. Stag of the siren (Ceruus Sirenae) | John XXIII, Antipope, |
Cardinal Deacon of St. Eustace, who is depicted with a stag; legate of Bologna, a Neapolitan. (1) Baldassarre Cossa was a cardinal with the title of St. Eustachius. St. Eustachius converted to Christianity after he saw a stag with a cross between its horns. Baldassarre’s family was originally from Naples, which has the emblem of the siren. (2) |
| HIT | 51. Column of the golden curtain (Corona ueli aurei) | 208. Martin V, |
Of the Colonna family, Cardinal Deacon of St. George at the golden curtain. (1) Oddone Colonna was the Cardinal Deacon of San Giorgio in Velabro. The word “Velabrum” is here interpreted as derived from “velum aureum”, or golden veil. His coat of arms had a golden crown resting atop a column. (2) |
| HIT | 52. Heavenly she-wolf (Lupa Coelestina) | 209. Eugene IV, |
A Venetian, formerly a regular Celestine canon, and Bishop of Siena. (1) He belonged to the order of the Celestines and was the Bishop of Siena which bears a she-wolf on its arms. (2) |
| VAGUE | 53. Lover of the cross (Amator Crucis) | Felix V, Antipope, |
Who was called Amadeus, Duke of Savoy, arms were a cross. (1) He was previously the count of Savoy and therefore his coat of arms contained the cross of Savoy. Also, the prophecy is a play on words, referring to the antipope’s Christian name, “Amadeus.”(2) |
| HIT | 54. From the meanness of Luna (De modicitate Lunae) | 210. Nicholas V, |
A Lunese of Sarzana, born to humble parents. (1) He was born in Sarzana in the diocese of Luni, the ancient name of which was Luna. (2) |
| HIT | 55. Pasturing ox (Bos pascens) | 211. Callixtus III, |
A Spaniard, whose arms were a pasturing ox. (1) Alonso Borgia’s coat of arms had a grazing ox. (2) |
| HIT | 56. From a nanny-goat and an inn (De Capra & Albergo) | 212. Pius II, |
A Sienese, who was secretary to Cardinals Capranicus and Albergatus. (1) He had been secretary to Cardinal Domenico Capranica and Cardinal Albergatti before he was elected Pope. (2) |
| HIT | 57. From a stag and lion (De Ceruo & Leone) | 213. Paul II, |
A Venetian, who was Commendatary of the church of Cervia, and Cardinal of the title of St. Mark. (1) Possibly refers to his Bishopric of Cervia (punning on cervus, “a stag”) and his Cardinal title of St. Mark (symbolized by a winged lion). (2) |
| HIT | 58. Minorite fisherman (Piscator minorita) | 214. Sixtus IV, |
Son of a fisherman, Franciscan. (1) He was born the son of a fisherman and a member of the Franciscans, also known as “Minorites”. (2) |
| HIT | 59. Forerunner of Sicily (Praecursor Siciliae) | 215. Innocent VIII, |
Who was called John Baptist, and lived in the court of Alfonso, king of Sicily. (1) Giovanni Battista Ciba2 was named after John the Baptist, the precursor of Christ. In his early years, Giovanni served as the Bishop of Molfetta in Sicily. (2) |
| HIT | 60. Bull of Alba in the harbor (Bos Albanus in portu) | 216. Alexander VI, |
Cardinal Bishop of Albano and Porto, whose arms were a bull. (1) In 1456, he was made a Cardinal and he held the titles of Cardinal Bishop of Albano and Porto. Also, Pope Alexander had a red bull on his coat of arms. (2) |
| HIT | 61. From a small man (De paruo homine) | 217. Pius III, 1503 (Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini) | A Sienese, of the Piccolomini family. (1) His family name was Piccolomini, from piccolo “small” and uomo “man”. (2) |
| HIT | 62. The fruit of Jupiter will help (Fructus Iouis iuuabit) | 218. Julius II, |
A Genoese, his arms were an oak, Jupiter’s tree. (1) On his arms was an oak tree, which was sacred to Jupiter. Pope Julius’ family name, “Della Rovere,” literally means “of the oak.”(2) |
| HIT | 63. From a Politian gridiron (De craticula Politiana) | 219. Leo X, |
Son of Lorenzo de’ Medici, and student of Angelo Poliziano. (1) His educator and mentor was the distinguished humanist and scholar, Angelo Poliziano. The “Gridiron” is the motto evidently refers to St. Lawrence, who was martyred on a gridiron. This is a rather elliptical allusion to Lorenzo the Magnificent, who was Giovanni’s father. (2) |
| HIT | 64. Florentian lion (Leo Florentius) | 220. Adrian VI, |
Son of Florentius, his arms were a lion. (1) His coat of arms had two lions on it, and his name is sometimes given as Adriaan Florens, or other variants, from his father’s first name Florens (Florentius). (2) |
| HIT | 65. Flower of the sick man’s pill (Flos pilei aegri) | 221. Clement VII, |
A Florentine of the Medicean house, his arms were pill-balls and lilies. (1) The Medici coat of arms were emblazoned with six medical balls. One of these balls, the largest of the six, was emblazoned with the Florentine lily. (2) |
| HIT | 66. Hyacinth of the physicians (Hiacinthus medicoru) | 222. Paul III, |
Farnese, who bore lilies for arms, and was Cardinal of Saints Cosmas and Damian. (1) Pope Paul’s coat of arms were charged with six hyacinths. (2) |
| HIT | 67. From the mountainous crown (De corona montana) | 223. Julius III, |
Formerly called Giovanni Maria of the Mountain (de Monte)(1) His coat of arms showed mountains and palm branches laid out in a pattern much like a crown. (2) |
| HIT | 68. Trifling grain (Frumentum flocidum [sic]) | 224. Marcellus II, 1555 (Marcello Cervini) | Whose arms were a stag and grain; ‘trifling’, because he lived only a short time as pope. (1) His coat of arms showed a stag and ears of wheat. (2) |
| VAGUE | 69. From Peter’s faith (De fide Petri) | 225. Paul IV, |
Formerly called John Peter Caraffa. (1) He is said to have used his second Christian name Pietro. (2) |
| HIT | 70. Aesculapius’ medicine (Esculapii pharmacum) | 226. Pius IV, |
Formerly called Giovanni Angelo Medici. (1) His family name was Medici. (2) |
| HIT | 71. Angel of the grove (Angelus nemorosus) | 227. St. Pius V, |
Called Michael, born in the town of Bosco. (1) He was born in Bosco, (Lombardy); the placename means grove. His name was ‘Antonio Michele Ghisleri’, and Michele relates to the archangel. (2) |
| HIT | 72. Half body of the balls (Medium corpus pilaru) | 228. Gregory XIII, |
Whose arms were a half-dragon; a Cardinal created by Pius IV who bore balls in his arms. (1) The “balls” in the motto refer to Pope Pius IV, who had made Gregory a cardinal. Pope Gregory had a dragon on his coat of arms with half a body. (2) |
| HIT | 73. Axle in the midst of a sign. (Axis in medietate signi) | 229. Sixtus V, |
Who bears in his arms an axle in the middle of a lion. (1) This is a rather straightforward description of the pope’s coat of arms. (2) |
| HIT | 74. From the dew of the sky (De rore coeli) | 230. Urban VII, 1590 (Giovanni Battista Castagna) | Who was Archbishop of Rossano in Calabria, where manna is collected. (1) He had been Archbishop of Rossano in Calabria where sap called “the dew of heaven” is gathered from trees. (2) |
| MISS | 75 Of the antiquity of the city (Ex antiquitate Vrbis) | 231. Gregory XIV, |
His father was a senator of the ancient city of Milan. The word “senator” is derived from the Latin senex, meaning old man. (2) |
| MISS | 76 Pious city in war (Pia ciuitas in bello) | 232. Innocent IX, 1591 (Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti) | He was Patriarch of Jerusalem before succeeding to the Papacy. (2) |
| VAGUE | 77 Cross of Romulus (Crux Romulea) | 233. Clement VIII, |
He had been a cardinal with the title of Saint Pancratius, who was a Roman martyr. (2) |
| MISS | 78 Wavy man (Vndosus uir) | 234. Leo XI, 1605 (Alessandro Ottaviano De Medici) | He had been the Bishop of Palestrina. The ancient Romans attributed the origins of Palestrina to the seafaring hero Ulysses. Also, he had only reigned for 27 days. (2) |
| MISS | 79 Corrupted nation (Gens peruersa) | 235. Paul V, |
Pope Paul scandalised the Church when he appointed his nephew to the College of Cardinals. The word “nepotism” may have originated during this pope’s reign. (2) |
| MISS | 80 In the trouble of peace (In tribulatione pacis) | 236. Gregory XV, |
His reign corresponded with the outbreak of the Thirty Years’ War. (2) |
| MISS | 81 Lily and rose (Lilium et rosa) | 237. Urban VIII, |
He was a native of Florence, which has a red lily on its coat of arms. (2) |
| VAGUE | 82 Delight of the cross (Iucunditas crucis) | 238. Innocent X, |
He was raised to the pontificate around the time of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross after a long and difficult conclave. (2) |
| HIT | 83 Guard of the mountains (Montium custos) | 239. Alexander VII, |
His family arms include six hills with a star above them. (2) |
| MISS | 84 Star of the swans (Sydus olorum) | 240. Clement IX, |
The “star” in the legend refers Pope Alexander VII, who had made Clement his personal secretary. The Italian word for swan, cigni, rhymes with Pope Alexander’s surname, “Chigi.” [NOTE: This explanation has both “star” and “swans” referring—in an implausible way—to the *previous* pope, not Clement IX—ja](2) |
| VAGUE | 85 From a great river (De flumine magno) | 241. Clement X, |
Pope Clement was a native of Rome. (2) |
| VAGUE | 86 Insatiable beast (Bellua insatiabilis) | 242. Innocent XI, |
Pope Innocent had a lion on his coat of arms. (2) |
| MISS | 87 Glorious penitence (Poenitentia gloriosa) | 243. Alexander VIII, |
His first name was “Pietro”, after the apostle Peter who had repented after having denied Christ thrice. (2) |
| VAGUE | 88 Rake in the door (Rastrum in porta) | 244. Innocent XII, |
His full name was Antonio Pignatelli del Rastrello. “Rastrello” in Italian means “rake.” [NOTE: I have been unable to verify, except from Wikipedia, that “del Rastrello” was part of his family name. The Catholic Encyclopedia and other sources list only “Pignatelli”](2) |
| VAGUE | 89 Surrounded flowers (Flores circundati) | 245. Clement XI, |
He had been a cardinal with the title of Santa Maria in Aquiro. (2) |
| VAGUE | 90 From good religion (De bona religione) | 246. Innocent XIII, |
A play on words, referring to the pope’s regnal name. He was from the famous Conti family that had produced several Popes. (2) |
| MISS | 91 Soldier in War (Miles in bello) | 247. Benedict XIII, |
Before he was pope there was a lot of wars in nearby countries, and it is possible he could have fought in one as a soldier. (2) |
| VAGUE | 92 Lofty column (Columna excelsa) | 248. Clement XII, |
When still a cardinal, he had held the titular church of St Peter in Chains. The name “Peter” is derived from the Greek word “petros,” meaning “rock.” Clement was a frustrated architect who ordered, and sometimes interfered with, the building of many churches. He managed to salvage two columns of the Parthenon for his chapel at Mantua. (2) |
| MISS | 93 Country animal (Animal rurale) | 249. Benedict XIV, |
Might be a play on words because of his famous laws about missions in the two papal bulls. (2) |
| MISS | 94 Rose of Umbria (Rosa Vmbriae) | 250. Clement XIII, |
He had been a cardinal with the titular church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli. In mystical circles, the Virgin Mary is represented by a rose. (2) |
| HIT | 95 Swift bear (Vrsus uelox; later misprinted as Cursus velox, Swift Course, or Visus velox, Swift Glance) | 251. Clement XIV, |
The Ganganelli family crest bore a running bear. (2) |
| VAGUE | 96 Apostolic pilgrim (Peregrina apostolica) | 252. Pius VI, |
Spent the last two years of his life in exile, a prisoner of the French Revolution. (2) |
| MISS | 97 Rapacious eagle (Aquila rapax) | 253. Pius VII, |
The Pope’s pontificate was overshadowed by Napoleon, whose emblem was the eagle. (2) |
| MISS | 98 Dog and adder (Canis & coluber) | 254. Leo XII, |
“Dog” and “snake” are common insults, and Leo was widely hated. The legend could be an allusion to the pope’s last name, Sermattei. “Serpente” is the Italian word for snake. (2) |
| VAGUE | 99 Religious man (Vir religiosus) | 255. Pius VIII, |
Another play on words, referring to the pope’s regnal name. (2) |
| VAGUE | 100 From the baths of Tuscany (De balneis Ethruriae) | 256. Gregory XVI, |
Pope Gregory XVI belonged to the Camaldolese Order, which is said to have begun with two monastic houses. The first of these houses was Campus Maldoli, and the second was Fonte Buono, meaning “good fountain” in Italian. (2) |
| VAGUE | 101 Cross from cross (Crux de cruce) | 257. Bl. Pius IX, |
During his pontificate, the House of Savoy, whose coat of arms is a white cross on a red background, reunited Italy and stripped the pope of his territorial possessions. Pope Pius XII, commenting on the beatification process of Pius IX, used the words per crucem ad lucem (through the cross to light). Pius IX was finally beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000. (2) |
| VAGUE | 102 Light in the sky (Lumen in coelo) | 258. Leo XIII, |
His coat of arms had a shooting star. (2) |
| VAGUE | 103 Burning fire (Ignis ardens) | 259. St. Pius X, |
Pius advocated the codification of Canon law, daily communion and the use of Gregorian chant in the Catholic liturgy, and was an opponent of Modernism. He was the first pope to be declared a saint in over 400 years, the previous one being Pope Pius V. (2) |
| MISS | 104 Religion destroyed (Religio depopulata) | 260. Benedict XV, |
Reigned during, but had no influence to stop, World War I. This unprecedented period of violence was mainly fought between the Christian powers of Europe, destroying empires which had lasted centuries and began the worldwide spread of atheistic Communism. (2) |
| VAGUE | 105 Intrepid faith (Fides intrepida) | 261. Pius XI, |
Established Vatican City as a sovereign country with the papal office as head of state. (2) |
| VAGUE | 106 Angelic shepherd (Pastor angelicus) | 262. Ven. Pius XII, |
Reigning during World War II, he is reported to have covertly helped many Jews escape extermination in the Holocaust, though his role continues to be fiercely debated. Said to have received visions, some of which have yet to be revealed. (2) |
| HIT | 107 Shepherd and sailor (Pastor & nauta) | 263. Bl. John XXIII, |
Patriarch of Venice, a maritime city (and a fomer naval power), from 1953 until 1958 (when he was elected Pope). (2) |
| VAGUE | 108 Flower of flowers (Flos florum) | 264. Paul VI, |
His coat of arms featured three fleurs-de-lis. (2) |
| MISS | 109 From the midst of the moon (De medietate lunae) | 265. John Paul I, 1978 (Albino Luciani) | His month-long reign began with the moon half-full. (2) |
| VAGUE | 110 From the labor of the sun (De labore solis) | 266. Bl. John Paul II, 1978-2005 (Karol Wojtyla) | Born (18 May 1920) on the day of a solar eclipse and entombed (Friday April 8, 2005) on the day of a solar eclipse. Writing before that second eclipse, Tony Allan had said that attempts to find a connection between ‘from the labour of the sun’ and John Paul II ‘by pointing out that he came from Krakow, the birthplace of Copernicus, who first expounded the Earth’s solar orbit, seem forced.’ (2) |
| VAGUE | 111 Glory of the olive. (Gloria olivae) | 267. Benedict XVI, |
Chose the regnal name Benedict after St Benedict of Nursia, founder of the Benedictine Order. The order’s crest contains an olive branch. Since 1960, one of (currently) 20 congregations in the Benedictine Confederation has been the Olivetans (founded in 1313), whose name ultimately derives from the Mount of Olives in the New Testament. Notably, Pope Benedict XVI is personally unaffiliated with the Olivetan order. (2) |
| n/a | In the extreme persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit. (In persecutione extrema SRE sedebit) | [NOTE: It is unclear whether this line is associated with the preceding or following entry—ja.] (2) | |
| n/a | 112 Peter the Roman, who will nourish the sheep in many tribulations; when they are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The end. (Petrus Romanus, qui pascet oues in multis tribulationibus: quibus transactis ciuitas septicollis diruetur, & Iudex tremedus iudicabit populum suum. Finis) | 268. Unknown | The Catholic Encyclopedia, an independent American research company, has said that, even if the prophecy is genuine, which it doubts, there may still be many Popes between Peter the Roman and his predecessor on this list. (2) |