Regarding the mottos of the popes, many people think that Malachy’s description of “glory of the olives” for the pope to follow JPII was fulfilled in Cardinal Ratzinger’s choice of the name Benedict, as St. Benedict is associated with a branch of Benedictines called the Olivetans. The monastic order of Benedictins claimed that this Pope would be chosen from their ranks. Saint Benedict himself prophesised 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. Jesus gave his apocalyptic prophecy about the end of of the world from the Mount of Olives and mentioned the olive tree as a sign. Some think this Pope will reign during the beginning of the tribulation that Jesus spoke about.
Also, according to Malachy Pope JPII description was “De labore solis - From the labour of the Sun”. Some think this was particularly apt for this beloved pope, as John Paul II was both born and buried under a partial solar eclipse. This motto also recalls the passage in Rev 12 concerning the Woman adorned with the Sun:
And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth. (Rev 12:1-2)
The Latin phrase De labore solis is a common idiom for a solar eclipse, but it also echoes the above passage in the Apocalypse, where the Woman is in the pains of childbirth. Did this motto predict that the prophecy of the Woman adorned with the Sun and the “war in heaven” would take place during the pontificate of this pope?
Here are the descriptions of the other popes of the last century [1914-2012]
Religion Laid Waste. BENEDICT XV. 1914-1922. During this Pope’s reign saw Communism move into Russia where religious life was laid waste, and World War I with the death of millions of Christians who were carnage in Flanders Field and elsewhere.
Unshaken Faith. PIUS XI. 1922-1939. This Pope faced tremendous pressure from fascist and sinister powers in Germany and Italy, but he was an outspoken critic of Communism and Fascism which enraged Hitler.
Pastor and Mariner. JOHN XXIII. 1958-1963. John was a pastor to the world, much beloved, and the Patriarch of Venice. The connection to “mariner” is thus remarkable.
Flower of Flowers. PAUL VI. 1963-1978. Paul’s coat-of-arms depicts three fleurs-de-lis, (iris blossoms) corresponding to Malachay’s prophecy.
Of the Half Moon, “De Medietate Lunae”. JOHN PAUL I. 1978-1978. John Paul I was elected Pope on August 26, 1978, when the moon appeared exactly half full. It was in its waning phase. He died the following month, soon after an eclipse of the moon.
St. Malachy was reported to have possessed the powers of levitation, healing, and clairvoyance. While on his way to the Vatican to assume the post of papal legate for Ireland, he fell into trance and saw a line of papal reigns stretching from the successor to Innocent II and extending through centuries to the last of the line, identified as Peter of Rome. Malachy assigned short descriptions in Latin to each pope when he committed his vision to paper. These mottoes usually refer to a family name, birthplace, coat-of-arms, or office held before election to the papacy. Some of the phrases are multiple prophecies, written with ingenious word play.
Through the centuries, his prophecies have turned out to be amazingly accurate, even prophesying the date of his death.
By the way between Pope Benedict XVI and Peter Romanus is this line:
“In Psecutione extrema S.R.E. ſedebit.” “In extreme persecution, the Holy Roman Church will sit.”]
Whether this is a period of sede vacante with no pope or a period of time where a long line of popes will extend throughout persistent persecution is unclear.
