ANSWER: “The Prophecy of the Popes” purportedly written by St. Malachy is actually a series of 112 short Latin phrases. Each phrase is associated with a pope beginning with pope number 167, who is described as “ex castro tyberis.” This is presumed to be Pope Celestine II, who was elected pope in 1143. The list concludes with an unnumbered pope named “Peter, the Roman” during whose pontificate the city of Rome will be destroyed and the Last Judgment will occur. This list of phrases was first published in 1595 and attributed to St. Malachy, a 12th century bishop of Armagh, Ireland. Supposedly, Malachy was visiting Pope Celestine II in Rome (in 1139 A.D.) when he had a vision of the popes of the future. He wrote down the vision and deposited it in a Roman archive where it remained until it was discovered in 1590 AD. and subsequently published.

Those skeptical of this account point to the fact that the traditional biographer of St. Malachy (St. Bernard of Clairvaux) makes absolutely no mention of any prophecy. Neither is there any record of the “Prophecy of the Popes” until more than three centuries after St. Malachy’s death. If the vision was that important, some say, it would likely have been associated with St. Malachy during his lifetime. Others doubtful of this work attribute it to Nostradamus, who credited it to an earlier saint to avoid criticism.

Apart from the external critique of the “prophecy,” others point to the very subjective nature of the work itself. There are no names given for the popes, only short phrases given in Latin. Those phrases, very general and ambiguous, could be associated with almost anyone.

For example, “pope 263” is described as “pastor et nauta” (shepherd and sailor). This phrase is associated with Pope John XXIII, who was from Venice, a city known for waterways. “Pope 264” is described as “flos florum” (flower of flowers). Paul VI had fleurs-de-lis on his coat of arms. Pope John Paul II is described as “de labore solis” (of the work of the sun). Those supporting the prophecy claim he was born during a partial eclipse of the sun.

  All of this makes for lots of conversation and media attention but does it really add anything to how we are to live our lives? It seems similar to much that was being said at the end of the last century and the beginning of the new millennium. The Gospels admonish us to live each day as if the Lord were to come again that day. Those same Gospels quote Jesus as saying, “stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour” (Matt 25:13). It seems safer to lead our lives depending on the Gospels rather than on some medieval document of very dubious origin.

Father Bober is pastor of St. Kilian in Mars.