Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger, stepped down today but the rumors circulating through the UK and worldwide are whether the next Pope will be the last, whether the next Pope's rein end in Armageddon.
The rumors over the next Pope began a couple of weeks ago. A Daily Mail headline read, “The Papal Apocalypse! Doomsday fanatics claim next pontiff will be the last according to 12th century Prophecy of the Popes”
A 12th century saint’s writings are adding fuel to the rumors, MSN reported. The writings are being interpreted by some as a prediction of the end of the Roman Catholic Church and the end of the world.
MSN notes that both NBC and the Daily Mail have been reporting on the doomsday prophecy rumors.
The saintly source of Pope rumors
The Pope rumors originated from Irish Saint Malachy. He lived between 1094 and 1148. Some say St. Malachy predicted the apocalypse in his writings.
MSN notes that the rough translation of St. Malachy’s prophecies are as follows: "In the extreme persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit Peter the Roman, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations, and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills [i.e. Rome] will be destroyed, and the terrible judge will judge his people. The End."
In is writings, St. Malachy claims Peter the Roman will preside over the end of the world. One of the leading Pope candidate is Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson.(His photo is posted here.) MSN explains that Turkson is part of the Catholic administrative body, the Roman Curia. Some say that means he could be described Peter the Roman, the Pope who would preside over the apocalypse. But others suggest that the prophecy itself may be a forgery.
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