Prophecy of St. Malachy

Since Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation, there has been a battle going on in Wikipedia between editors who want the entire Prophecy of St. Malachy to be available and those who want to remove all of the mottos that date after 1595, which was the year it was published. In other words, they want to censor the prophetic part, probably because of its uncanny accuracy. We are depositing a permanent record here, lest it be censored or changed on a wider basis.

The Prophecy of the Popes is a series of of 112 short, cryptic phrases in Latin which purport to predict the Roman Catholic popes (along with a few antipopes), beginning with Pope Celestine II. The prophecies were first published by Benedictine Arnold de Wyon in 1595. Wyon attributes the prophecies to Saint Malachy, the 12th‑century Archbishop of Armagh. Given the very accurate description of popes up to 1590 and lack of accuracy after that point, historians have generally concluded that the prophecies were written shortly before they were published.

The current pope, Benedict XVI, would correspond to the pope described in the penultimate prophecy. The list ends with a pope identified as "Peter the Roman", whose pontificate will allegedly bring the destruction of the city of Rome and the beginning of the Apocalypse.History

The alleged prophecies were first published in 1595 by a Benedictine named Arnold de Wyon in his Lignum Vitæ, a history of the Benedictine order. Wyon attributed the prophecies to Saint Malachy, the 12th‑century Archbishop of Armagh. He explained that the prophecies had not, to his knowledge, ever been printed before, but that many were eager to see them. Wyon includes both the alleged original prophecies, consisting of short, cryptic Latin phrases, as well as an interpretation applying the statements to historical popes up to Urban VII (pope for thirteen days in 1590), which Wyon attributes to Alphonsus Ciacconius.^[1]

According to the traditional account, Malachy was summoned to Rome in 1139 by Pope Innocent II. While in Rome, Malachy purportedly experienced a vision of future popes, which he recorded as a sequence of cryptic phrases. This manuscript was then deposited in the Roman Archives, and forgotten about until its rediscovery in 1590.^[2]

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, a contemporary biographer of Malachy, makes no mention of the prophecies, nor are they mentioned in any record prior to its 1595 publication.^[2]

Several historians have concluded that the prophecies are a late 16th‑century forgery.^[1][2] Spanish monk and scholar Benito Jerónimo Feijóo y Montenegro wrote in his Teatro Crítico Universal (1724–1739), in an entry called Purported prophecies, that the high level of accuracy of the alleged prophecies up until the date they were published, compared with their high level of inaccuracy after that date, is evidence that they were created around the time of publication.^[3] One theory to explain the creation of the prophecies, put forward by 17th century French priest and encyclopaedist Louis Moréri, among others, is that they were spread by supporters of Cardinal Girolamo Simoncelli in support of his bid to become pope during the 1590 conclave to replace Urban VII. In the prophecies, the pope following Urban VII is given the description "Ex antiquitate Urbis" ("from the old city"), and Simoncelli was from Orvieto, which in Latin is Urbevetanum, old city. The prophecies may, therefore, have been created in an attempt to demonstrate that Simoncelli was destined to be pope.^[1] Simoncelli was not elected pope; Urban VII was succeeded by Pope Gregory XIV, born Niccolò Sfondrati.

Interpretations

The interpretation of the prophecies for pre-publication popes provided by Wyon involves close correspondences between the mottos and the popes’ birthplaces, family names, personal arms, and pre-papal careers. For example, the first motto, Ex castro Tiberis (from a castle on the Tiber), fits Pope Celestine II‘s birthplace in Città di Castello, on the Tiber.

Efforts to connect the prophecies to historical popes who were elected after its publication have been more strained.^[1][2][3] For example, Pope Clement XIII is referred to in a prophecy as Rosa Umbriae (the rose of Umbria), but was not from Umbria nor had any but the most marginal connection with the region, having been briefly pontifical governor of Rieti, at the time part of Umbria.

Some writers note that among the post-publication (post-1595) predictions there remain ‘some surprisingly appropriate phrases’, while adding that ‘it is of course easy to exagerate the list’s accuracy by simply citing its successes’, and that ‘other tags do not fit so neatly’.^[4] Among the reported ‘successes’ are ‘Religion depopulated’ for Benedict XV (1914-22) whose papacy included World War One and the atheistic communist Russian Revolution; ‘Swift bear’ for Clement XIV (1769-74), with a running bear in his coat of arms; ‘Light in the sky’ for Leo XIII (1878-1903), with a comet in his coat of arms; and ‘Flower of flowers’ for Paul VI (1963-78), with fleur-de-lys in his coat of arms.^[4]

Petrus Romanus

In recent times, some interpreters of prophetic literature have drawn attention to the prophecies due to their imminent conclusion; if the list of descriptions is matched on a one-to-one basis to the list of historic popes since the prophecies’ publication, the currently retiring pope, Benedict XVI (2005-2013), would correspond to the second last of the papal descriptions, Gloria olivae (the glory of the olive).^[4] The last prophecy predicts the Apocalypse. The longest and final motto reads:

In persecutione extrema S.R.E. sedebit.
Petrus Romanus, qui pascet oves in multis tribulationibus, quibus transactis civitas septicollis diruetur, & judex tremedus judicabit populum suum. Finis.

This may be translated into English as:

In the extreme persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit [i.e., as bishop].
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 the Lignum Vitae, the line In persecutione extrema S.R.E. sedebit. forms a separate sentence and paragraph of its own, and it is unclear whether it is grammatically related to Gloria olivae which precedes it, or to Petrus Romanus, which follows it.

Several historians and interpreters of the prophecies note that they leave open the possibility of unlisted popes between "the glory of the olive" and the final pope, "Peter the Roman."^[1][2]

Popes and corresponding mottos

This list, adapted from The Prophecies of St. Malachy by Peter Bander, begins its numbering two numbers ahead of the Vatican’s numbering of popes (Benedict XVI is the 265th, not the 267th). The reason for this is unclear (perhaps because of the two purported "anti-popes").

The list can be divided into two groups; one of the 74 Popes and Antipopes who reigned prior to the appearance of the prophecies in 1590, for whom the connection between the motto and the Pope is usually clear but can be seen as postdiction. The other is of the 38 Popes who have reigned since 1590, for whom the connection between the motto and the Pope is often strained or totally opaque and could be viewed as shoehorning.

Popes and Antipopes 1143–1590

The text on the silver lines below reproduces the original text (including punctuation and orthography) of the 1595 Lignum Vitae, which consisted of three parallel columns for the Popes before 1590. The first column contained the motto, the second the name of the Pope or Antipope to whom it was attached (with occasional errors), and the third an attempted explanation or justification of the name. The original list was unnumbered.

Pre-appearance Popes (1143–1590)
Pope No.	Motto (Translation)	Regnal Name (Reign)	Name	Historical Reference or Explanation[citation needed][original research?]	Coat of Arms
Ex caſtro Tiberis.		Cœleſtinus. ij.		Typhernas.
167	1. From a castle of the Tiber	Celestine II (1143–1144)	Guido de Castello	An inhabitant of Tifernum. Born in Città di Castello, Umbria, on the banks of the Tiber.[5]
Inimicus expulſus.		Lucius. ij.		De familia Caccianemica.
168	2. Enemy expelled	Lucius II (1144–1145)	Gherardo Caccianemici del Orso	Of the Caccianemici family. This motto refers to Gherardo Caccianemici’s surname. “Cacciare” means “to hunt”,[6] and “nemici” is the Italian word for “enemies”. As his name foreshadowed, Caccianemici would be driven from Rome by his own subjects.[7]
Ex magnitudine mõtis.		Eugenius. iij.		Patria Ethruſcus oppido Montis magni.
169	3. Out of the greatness of the mountain	Eugene III (1145–1153)	Bernardo dei Pagnelli di Montemagno	Tuscan by nation, from the town of Montemagno. The motto refers to Pope Eugene’s last name, “Montemagno.”[8]
Abbas Suburranus.		Anaſtaſius. iiij.		De familia Suburra.
170	4. Suburran abbot	Anastasius IV (1153–1154)	Corrado di Suburra	From the Suburra family.
De rure albo.		Adrianus. iiij.		Vilis natus in oppido Sancti Albani.
171	5. From the white countryside	Adrian IV (1154–1159)	Nicholas Breakspear	Humbly born in the town of St. Albans. Educated at the St Albans School in Hertfordshire. Nicholas Breakspear was the bishop of Albano before becoming pope.[9]
Ex tetro carcere.		Victor. iiij.		Fuit Cardinalis S. Nicolai in carcere Tulliano.
	6. Out of a loathsome prison.	Victor IV, Antipope (1159–1164)	Ottaviano Monticello	He was a cardinal of St. Nicholas in the Tullian prison.
Via Tranſtiberina.		Calliſtus. iij. [sic]		Guido Cremenſis Cardinalis S. Mariæ Tranſtiberim.
	7. Road across the Tiber.	Paschal III, Antipope (1164–1168)	Guido di Crema	Guido of Crema, Cardinal of St. Mary across the Tiber. As a cardinal, he had held the title of Santa Maria in Trastevere.[10]
De Pannonia Thuſciæ.		Paſchalis. iij. [sic]		Antipapa. Hungarus natione, Epiſcopus Card. Tuſculanus.
	8. From Tusculan Hungary	Callixtus III, Antipope (1168–1178)	Giovanni di Strumi	Antipope. A Hungarian by birth, Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum. He was John, Abbot of Struma, originally from Hungary.[11]
Ex anſere cuſtode.		Alexander. iij.		De familia Paparona.
172	9. Out of the guardian goose	Alexander III (1159–1181)	Orlando Bandinelli Paparoni	Of the Paparoni family. His family’s coat of arms had a goose on it.[12]
Lux in oſtio.		Lucius. iij.		Lucenſis Card. Oſtienſis.
173	10. A light in the entrance	Lucius III (1181–1185)	Ubaldo Allucingoli	A Luccan Cardinal of Ostia. In 1159, he became Cardinal Bishop of Ostia.[13] Lux may also be a wordplay on Lucius.
Sus in cribro.		Vrbanus. iij.		Mediolanenſis, familia cribella, quæ Suem pro armis gerit.
174	11. Pig in a sieve	Urban III (1185–1187)	Umberto Crivelli	A Milanese, of the Cribella (Crivelli) family, which bears a pig for arms. His family name Crivelli means "a sieve" in Italian.
Enſis Laurentii.		Gregorius. viij.		Card. S. Laurentii in Lucina, cuius inſignia enſes falcati.
175	12. The sword of St. Lawrence	Gregory VIII (1187)	Alberto De Morra	Cardinal of St. Lawrence in Lucina, of whom the arms were curved swords. He had been the Cardinal of St. Lawrence[14] and his armorial bearing was a drawn sword.[15]
De Schola exiet.[16]		Clemens. iij.		Romanus, domo Scholari.
176	13 He will come from school	Clement III (1187–1191)	Paolo Scolari	A Roman, of the house of Scolari. His family name was Scolari.
De rure bouenſi.		Cœleſtinus. iij.		Familia Bouenſi.
177	14. From cattle country	Celestine III (1191–1198)	Giacinto Bobone	Bovensis (Bobone) family. He was from the Bobone family; a wordplay on cattle (boves).
Comes Signatus.		Innocentius. iij.		Familia Comitum Signiæ.
178	15. Designated count	Innocent III (1198–1216)	Lotario dei Conti di Segni	Family of the Counts of Signia (Segni) Descendant of the Segni family.
Canonicus de latere.		Honorius. iij.		Familia Sabella, Canonicus S. Ioannis Lateranensis.
179	16. Canon from the side	Honorius III (1216–1227)	Cencio Savelli	Savelli family, canon of St. John Lateran He was a canon for the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, and had served as papal chamberlain in 1188.[17]
Auis Oſtienſis.		Gregorius. ix.		Familia Comitum Signiæ Epiſcopus Card. Oſtienſis.
180	17. Bird of Ostia	Gregory IX (1227–1241)	Ugolino dei Conti di Segni	Family of the Counts of Segni, Cardinal Bishop of Ostia. 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.[18]
Leo Sabinus.		Cœleſtinus iiij.		Mediolanenſis, cuius inſignia Leo, Epiſcopus Card. Sabinus.
181	18. Sabine Lion	Celestine IV (1241)	Goffredo Castiglioni	A Milanese, whose arms were a lion, Cardinal Bishop of Sabina. He was Cardinal Bishop of Sabina[19] and his armorial bearing had a lion in it. Also a play on words, referring to the pope’s last name, Castiglioni.
Comes Laurentius.		Innocentius iiij.		domo flisca, Comes Lauaniæ, Cardinalis S. Laurentii in Lucina.
182	19. Count Lawrence	Innocent IV (1243–1254)	Sinibaldo Fieschi	Of the house of Flisca (Fieschi), Count of Lavagna, Cardinal of St. Lawrence in Lucina. He was the Cardinal-Priest of San Lorenzo in Lucca,[20] and his father was the Count of Lavagna.[21]
Signum Oſtienſe.		Alexander iiij.		De comitibus Signiæ, Epiſcopus Card. Oſtienſis.
183	20. Sign of Ostia	Alexander IV (1254–1261)	Renaldo dei Signori di Ienne	Of the counts of Segni, Cardinal Bishop of Ostia. He was Cardinal Bishop of Ostia and member of the Conti-Segni family.[22]
Hieruſalem Campanię.		Vrbanus iiii.		Gallus, Trecenſis in Campania, Patriarcha Hieruſalem.
184	21. Jerusalem of Champagne	Urban IV (1261–1264)	Jacques Pantaleon	A Frenchman, of Trecae (Troyes) in Champagne, Patriarch of Jerusalem. Native of Troyes, Champagne, later patriarch of Jerusalem.[23]
Draco depreſſus.		Clemens iiii.		cuius inſignia Aquila vnguibus Draconem tenens.
185	22. Dragon pressed down	Clement IV (1265–1268)	Guido Fulcodi	Whose badge is an eagle holding a dragon in his talons. His coat of arms had an eagle crushing a dragon.
Anguinus uir.		Gregorius. x.		Mediolanenſis, Familia vicecomitum, quæ anguẽ pro inſigni gerit.
186	23. Snaky man	Gregory X (1271–1276)	Tebaldo Visconti	A Milanese, of the family of Viscounts (Visconti), which bears a snake for arms. The Visconti coat of arms had a large serpent devouring a male child feet first.[24]
Concionator Gallus.		Innocentius. v.		Gallus, ordinis Prædicatorum.
187	24. French Preacher	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.[25]
Bonus Comes.		Adrianus. v.		Ottobonus familia Fliſca ex comitibus Lauaniæ.
188	25. Good Count/companion	Adrian V (1276)	Ottobono Fieschi	Ottobono, of the Fieschi family, from the counts of Lavagna. He was a count and a wordplay on "good" can be made with his name, Ottobono.
Piſcator Thuſcus.		Ioannes. xxi.		antea Ioannes Petrus Epiſcopus Card. Tuſculanus.
189	26. Tuscan Fisherman	John XXI (1276–1277)	Pedro Julião	Formerly John Peter, Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum. John XXI had been the Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum.[26]
Roſa compoſita.		Nicolaus. iii.		Familia Vrſina, quæ roſam in inſigni gerit, dictus compoſitus.
190	27. Composite Rose	Nicholas III (1277–1280)	Giovanni Gaetano Orsini	Of the Ursina (Orsini) family, which bears a rose on its arms, called ‘composite’. He bore a rose in his coat of arms.[27]
Ex teloneo liliacei Martini.		Martinus. iiii.		cuius inſignia lilia, canonicus, & theſaurarius S. Martini Turonen[sis].
191	28. From the tollhouse of lilied Martin	Martin IV (1281–1285)	Simone de Brion	Whose arms were lilies, canon and treasurer of St. Martin of Tours. He was Canon and Treasurer at the Church of St. Martin in Tours, France.
Ex roſa leonina.		Honorius. iiii.		Familia Sabella inſignia roſa à leonibus geſtata.
192	29. Out of the leonine rose	Honorius IV (1285–1287)	Giacomo Savelli	Of the Sabella (Savelli) family, arms were a rose carried by lions. His coat of arms were emblazoned with two lions supporting a rose.[27]
Picus inter eſcas.		Nicolaus. iiii.		Picenus patria Eſculanus.[28]
193	30. Woodpecker between food	Nicholas IV (1288–1292)	Girolamo Masci	A Picene by nation, of Asculum (Ascoli). He was from Ascoli, now called Ascoli Piceno, in Picene country.
Ex eremo celſus.		Cœleſtinus. v.		Vocatus Petrus de morrone Eremita.
194	31. Raised out of the desert	St. Celestine V (1294)	Pietro Di Murrone	Called Peter de Morrone, a hermit. 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.
Ex undarũ bn̑dictione.		Bonifacius. viii.		Vocatus prius Benedictus, Caetanus, cuius inſignia undæ.
195	32. From the blessing of the waves	Boniface VIII (1294–1303)	Benedetto Caetani	Previously called Benedict, of Gaeta, whose arms were waves. His coat of arms had a wave through it. Also a play on words, referring to the pope’s Christian name, "Benedetto."[27]
Concionator patereus. [sic]		Benedictus. xi.		qui uocabatur Frater Nicolaus, ordinis Prædicatorum.
196	33. Preacher From Patara	Benedict XI (1303–1304)	Nicholas Boccasini	Who was called Brother Nicholas, of the order of Preachers. This Pope belonged to the Order of Preachers. Patara was the hometown of Saint Nicholas, a namesake of this Pope (born Nicholas Boccasini).[29]
De feſſis aquitanicis.		Clemens V.		natione aquitanus, cuius inſignia feſſæ erant.
197	34. From the misfortunes/fesses of Aquitaine	Clement V (1305–1314)	Bertrand de Got	An Aquitanian by birth, whose arms were fesses. 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.
De ſutore oſſeo.		Ioannes XXII.		Gallus, familia Oſſa, Sutoris filius.
198	35. From a bony cobbler	John XXII (1316–1334)	Jacques Duese	A Frenchman, of the Ossa family, son of a cobbler. His family name was Duèze, 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.
Coruus ſchiſmaticus.		Nicolaus V.		qui uocabatur F. Petrus de corbario, contra Ioannem XXII. Antipapa Minorita.
	36. Schismatic crow	Nicholas V, Antipope (1328–1330)	Pietro Rainalducci di Corvaro	Who was called Brother Peter of Corbarium (Corvaro), the Minorite antipope opposing John XXII. The motto is a play on words, referring to Pietro di Corvaro’s last name.
Frigidus Abbas.		Benedictus XII.		Abbas Monaſterii fontis frigidi.
199	37. Cold abbot	Benedict XII (1334–1342)	Jacques Fournier	Abbot of the monastery of the cold spring. He was an abbot in the monastery of Fontfroide ("cold spring").[30]
De roſa Attrebatenſi.		Clemens VI.		Epiſcopus Attrebatenſis, cuius inſignia Roſæ.
200	38. From the rose of Arras	Clement VI (1342–1352)	Pierre Roger	Bishop of Arras, whose arms were roses. He was Bishop of Arras, (Latin: Episcopus Atrebatensis),[31] and his armorial bearings were emblazoned with six roses.[32]
De mõtibus Pãmachii.		Innocentius VI.		Cardinalis SS. Ioannis & Pauli. T. Panmachii, cuius inſignia ſex montes erant.
201	39. From the mountains of Pammachius	Innocent VI (1352–1362)	Etienne Aubert	Cardinal of Saints John and Paul, Titulus of Pammachius, whose arms were six mountains. Pope Innocent was born at Mont in the diocese of Limoges, France, and he rose to prominence as the Bishop of Clermont.[33] He had been a cardinal priest with the title of St. Pammachius (i.e., the church of SS. Giovanni e Paolo in Rome)[34]
Gallus Vicecomes.		Vrbanus V.		nuncius Apoſtolicus ad Vicecomites Mediolanenſes.
202	40. French viscount	Urban V (1362–1370)	Guglielmo De Grimoard	Apostolic nuncio to the Viscounts of Milan. He was born of a noble French family.
Nouus de uirgine forti.		Gregorius XI.		qui uocabatur Petrus Belfortis, Cardinalis S. Mariæ nouæ.
203	41. New man from the strong virgin	Gregory XI (1370–1378)	Pierre Roger de Beaufort	Who was called Peter Belfortis (Beaufort), Cardinal of New St. Mary’s. From the Beaufort family and Cardinal of Santa Maria Nuova[35]
Decruce Apoſtolica. [sic]		Clemens VII.		qui fuit Preſbyter Cardinalis SS. XII. Apoſtolorũ cuius inſignia Crux.
	42. From the apostolic cross	Clement VII, Antipope (1378–1394)	Robert, Count of Geneva	Who was Cardinal Priest of the Twelve Holy Apostles, whose arms were a cross. His coat of arms showed a cross, quarterly pierced.[36]
Luna Coſmedina.		Benedictus XIII.		antea Petrus de Luna, Diaconus Cardinalis S. Mariæ in Coſmedin.
	43. Cosmedine moon.	Benedict XIII, Antipope (1394–1423)	Peter de Luna	Formerly Peter de Luna, Cardinal Deacon of St. Mary in Cosmedin. He was the famous Peter de Luna, Cardinal of Santa Maria in Cosmedin.[37]
Schiſma Barchinoniũ.		Clemens VIII.		Antipapa, qui fuit Canonicus Barchinonenſis.
	44. Schism of the Barcelonas	Clement VIII, Antipope (1423–1429)	Gil Sanchez Muñoz	Antipope, who was a canon of Barcelona. [38]
De inferno prægnãti.		Vrbanus VI.		Neapolitanus Pregnanus, natus in loco quæ dicitur Infernus.
204	45. From a pregnant hell.	Urban VI (1378–1389)	Bartolomeo Prignano	The Neapolitan Prignano, born in a place which is called Inferno. His family name was Prignano or Prignani, and he was native to a place called Inferno near Naples.[39]
Cubus de mixtione.		Bonifacius. IX.		familia tomacella à Genua Liguriæ orta, cuius inſignia Cubi.
205	46. Cube from a mixture	Boniface IX (1389–1404)	Pietro Tomacelli	Of the Tomacelli family, born in Genoa in Liguria, whose arms were cubes. His coat of arms includes a bend checky — a wide stripe with a checkerboard pattern.[32]
De meliore ſydere.		Innocentius. VII.		uocatus Coſmatus de melioratis Sulmonenſis, cuius inſignia ſydus.
206	47. From a better star	Innocent VII (1404–1406)	Cosmo Migliorati	Called Cosmato dei Migliorati of Sulmo, whose arms were a star. 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.[32]
Nauta de Ponte nigro.		Gregorius XII.		Venetus, commendatarius eccleſiæ Nigropontis.
207	48. Sailor from a black bridge	Gregory XII (1406–1415)	Angelo Correr	A Venetian, commendatary of the church of Negroponte. Was Bishop of Venice and the Bishop of Chalcice, Chalcice being located on the Isle of Negropont
Flagellum ſolis.		Alexander. V.		Græcus Archiepiſcopus Mediolanenſis, inſignia Sol.
	49. Whip of the sun	Alexander V, Antipope (1409–1410)	Petros Philarges	A Greek, Archbishop of Milan, whose arms were a sun. His coat of arms had a large sun on it. Also, a play on words, referring to the pope’s last name, "Philarges."[40]
Ceruus Sirenæ.		Ioannes XXIII.		Diaconus Cardinalis S. Euſtachii, qui cum ceruo depingitur, Bononiæ legatus, Neapolitanus.
	50. Stag of the siren	John XXIII, Antipope (1410–1415)	Baldassarre Cossa	Cardinal Deacon of St. Eustace, who is depicted with a stag; legate of Bologna, a Neapolitan. Baldassarre Cossa was a cardinal with the title of St. Eustachius.[41] 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.
Corona ueli aurei.		Martinus V.		familia colonna, Diaconus Cardinalis S. Georgii ad uelum aureum.
208	51. Crown of the golden curtain	Martin V (1417–1431)	Oddone Colonna	Of the Colonna family, Cardinal Deacon of St. George at the golden curtain. Oddone Colonna was the Cardinal Deacon of San Giorgio in Velabro.[42] The word "Velabrum" is here interpreted as derived from "velum aureum", or golden veil.[43] His coat of arms had a golden crown resting atop a column.[44]
Lupa Cœleſtina,		Eugenius. IIII.		Venetus, canonicus antea regularis Cœleſtinus, & Epiſcopus Senẽſis.
209	52. Heavenly she-wolf	Eugene IV (1431–1447)	Gabriele Condulmaro	A Venetian, formerly a regular Celestine canon, and Bishop of Siena. He belonged to the order of the Celestines and was the Bishop of Siena which bears a she-wolf on its arms.
Amator Crucis.		Felix. V.		qui uocabatur Amadæus Dux Sabaudiæ, inſignia Crux.
	53. Lover of the cross	Felix V, Antipope (1439–1449)	Amadeus Duke of Savoy	Who was called Amadeus, Duke of Savoy, arms were a cross. He was previously the count of Savoy and therefore his coat of arms contained the cross of Savoy.[45] Also, the prophecy is a play on words, referring to the antipope’s Christian name, "Amadeus."
De modicitate Lunæ.		Nicolaus V.		Lunenſis de Sarzana, humilibus parentibus natus.
210	54. From the meanness of Luna	Nicholas V (1447–1455)	Tommaso Parentucelli	A Lunese of Sarzana, born to humble parents. He was born in Sarzana in the diocese of Luni, the ancient name of which was Luna.
Bos paſcens.		Calliſtus. III.		Hiſpanus, cuius inſignia Bos paſcens.
211	55. Pasturing ox	Callixtus III (1455–1458)	Alfonso Borja	A Spaniard, whose arms were a pasturing ox. Alonso Borgia’s coat of arms had a grazing ox.[44]
De Capra & Albergo.		Pius. II.		Senenſis, qui fuit à Secretis Cardinalibus Capranico & Albergato.
212	56. From a nanny-goat and an inn	Pius II (1458–1464)	Enea Silvio de Piccolomini	A Sienese, who was secretary to Cardinals Capranicus and Albergatus. He had been secretary to Cardinal Domenico Capranica and Cardinal Albergatti before he was elected Pope.[46]
De Ceruo & Leone.		Paulus. II.		Venetus, qui fuit Commendatarius eccleſiæ Ceruienſis, & Cardinalis tituli S. Marci.
213	57. From a stag and lion	Paul II (1464–1471)	Pietro Barbo	A Venetian, who was Commendatary of the church of Cervia, and Cardinal of the title of St. Mark. Possibly refers to his Bishopric of Cervia (punning on cervus, "a stag") and his Cardinal title of St. Mark (symbolized by a winged lion).[47]
Piſcator minorita.		Sixtus. IIII.		Piſcatoris filius, Franciſcanus.
214	58. Minorite fisherman	Sixtus IV (1471–1484)	Francesco Della Rovere	Son of a fisherman, Franciscan. He was born the son of a fisherman and a member of the Franciscans, also known as "Minorites".
Præcurſor Siciliæ.		Innocentius VIII.		qui uocabatur Ioãnes Baptiſta, & uixit in curia Alfonſi regis Siciliæ.
215	59. Forerunner of Sicily	Innocent VIII (1484–1492)	Giovanni Battista Cibò	Who was called John Baptist, and lived in the court of Alfonso, king of Sicily. Giovanni Battista Cibò was named after John the Baptist, the precursor of Christ. In his early years, Giovanni served as the Bishop of Molfetta in Sicily.[48]
Bos Albanus in portu.		Alexander VI.		Epiſcopus Cardinalis Albanus & Portuenſis, cuius inſignia Bos.
216	60. Bull of Alba in the harbor	Alexander VI (1492–1503)	Rodrigo de Borgia	Cardinal Bishop of Albano and Porto, whose arms were a bull. In 1456, he was made a Cardinal and he held the titles of Cardinal Bishop of Albano and Porto. [49] Also, Pope Alexander had a red bull on his coat of arms[50]
De paruo homine.		Pius. III.		Senenſis, familia piccolominea.
217	61. From a small man	Pius III (1503)	Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini	A Sienese, of the Piccolomini family. His family name was Piccolomini, from piccolo "small" and uomo "man".
Fructus Iouis iuuabit.		Iulius. II.		Ligur, eius inſignia Quercus, Iouis arbor.
218	62. The fruit of Jupiter will help	Julius II (1503–1513)	Giuliano Della Rovere	A Genoese, his arms were an oak, Jupiter’s tree. On his arms was an oak tree, which was sacred to Jupiter.[50] Pope Julius’ family name, "Della Rovere," literally means "of the oak."[51]
De craticula Politiana.		Leo. X.		filius Laurentii medicei, & ſcholaris Angeli Politiani.
219	63. From a Politian gridiron	Leo X (1513–1521)	Giovanni de Medici	Son of Lorenzo de’ Medici, and student of Angelo Poliziano. 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.[52]
Leo Florentius.		Adrian. VI.		Florẽtii filius, eius inſignia Leo.
220	64. Florentian lion	Adrian VI (1522–1523)	Adriaen Florenszoon Boeyens	Son of Florentius, his arms were a lion. His coat of arms had two lions on it,[50] and his name is sometimes given as Adriaan Florens, or other variants, from his father’s first name Florens (Florentius).
Flos pilei ægri.		Clemens. VII.		Florentinus de domo medicea, eius inſignia pila, & lilia.
221	65. Flower of the sick man’s pill[53]	Clement VII (1523–1534)	Giulio de Medici	A Florentine of the Medicean house, his arms were pill-balls and lilies. 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.[50]
Hiacinthus medicorũ.		Paulus. III.		Farneſius, qui lilia pro inſignibus geſtat, & Card. fuit SS. Coſme, & Damiani.
222	66. Hyacinth of the physicians	Paul III (1534–1549)	Alessandro Farnese	Farnese, who bore lilies for arms, and was Cardinal of Saints Cosmas and Damian. Pope Paul’s coat of arms were charged with six hyacinths.[50]
De corona montana.		Iulius. III.		antea uocatus Ioannes Maria de monte.
223	67. From the mountainous crown	Julius III (1550–1555)	Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte	Formerly called Giovanni Maria of the Mountain (de Monte) His coat of arms showed mountains and palm branches laid out in a pattern much like a crown.[50]
Frumentum flocidum. [sic]		Marcellus. II.		cuius inſignia ceruus & frumẽtum, ideo floccidum, quod pauco tempore uixit in papatu.
224	68. Trifling grain	Marcellus II (1555)	Marcello Cervini	Whose arms were a stag and grain; ‘trifling’, because he lived only a short time as pope. His coat of arms showed a stag and ears of wheat.[50]
De fide Petri.		Paulus. IIII.		antea uocatus Ioannes Petrus Caraffa.
225	69. From Peter’s faith	Paul IV (1555–1559)	Giovanni Pietro Caraffa	Formerly called John Peter Caraffa. He is said to have used his second Christian name Pietro.
Eſculapii pharmacum.		Pius. IIII.		antea dictus Io. Angelus Medices.
226	70. Aesculapius’ medicine	Pius IV (1559–1565)	Giovanni Angelo de Medici	Formerly called Giovanni Angelo Medici. His family name was Medici.
Angelus nemoroſus.		Pius. V.		Michael uocatus, natus in oppido Boſchi.
227	71. Angel of the grove	St. Pius V (1566–1572)	Antonio Michele Ghisleri	Called Michael, born in the town of Bosco. He was born in Bosco, (Lombardy); the placename means grove. His name was ‘Antonio Michele Ghisleri’, and Michele relates to the archangel.
Medium corpus pilarũ.		Gregorius. XIII.		cuius inſignia medius Draco, Cardinalis creatus à Pio. IIII. qui pila in armis geſtabat.
228	72. Half body of the balls	Gregory XIII (1572–1585)	Ugo Boncompagni	Whose arms were a half-dragon; a Cardinal created by Pius IV who bore balls in his arms. 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.[50]
Axis in medietate ſigni.		Sixtus. V.		qui axem in medio Leonis in armis geſtat.
229	73. Axle in the midst of a sign.	Sixtus V (1585–1590)	Felice Peretti	Who bears in his arms an axle in the middle of a lion. This is a rather straightforward description of the pope’s coat of arms.[50]
De rore cœli.		Vrbanus. VII.		qui fuit Archiepiſcopus Roſſanenſis in Calabria, ubi mãna colligitur.
230	74. From the dew of the sky	Urban VII (1590)	Giovanni Battista Castagna	Who was Archbishop of Rossano in Calabria, where manna is collected. He had been Archbishop of Rossano in Calabria where sap called "the dew of heaven" is gathered from trees.[54]

Popes 1590 to present

This article may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. (February 2013)

For this group of Popes, the published text only provides names for the first three (i.e., those who were Popes between the appearance of the text in 1590, and its publication in 1595) and attempts no explanations.

Post-appearance Popes (1590–present)
Pope No.	Motto (Translation)	Regnal Name (Reign)	Name	Speculation by writer Tony Allan[original research?][citation needed]	Coat of Arms
Ex antiquitate Vrbis.		Gregorius. XIIII.
231	75 Of the antiquity of the city	Gregory XIV (1590–1591)	Niccolo Sfondrati	His father was a senator of the ancient city of Milan. The word "senator" is derived from the Latin senex, meaning old man.[original research?]
Pia ciuitas in bello.		Innocentius. IX.
232	76 Pious city in war	Innocent IX (1591)	Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti	He was Patriarch of Jerusalem before succeeding to the Papacy.[original research?]
Crux Romulea.		Clemens. VIII.
233	77 Cross of Romulus	Clement VIII (1592–1605)	Ippolito Aldobrandini	He had been a cardinal with the title of Saint Pancratius, who was a Roman martyr.[55][56][original research?]
Vndoſus uir.
234	78 Wavy man	Leo XI (1605)	Alessandro Ottaviano De Medici	He had been the Bishop of Palestrina.[57] The ancient Romans attributed the origins of Palestrina to the seafaring hero Ulysses.[58] Also, he had only reigned for 27 days.[original research?]
Gens peruerſa.
235	79 Corrupted nation	Paul V (1605–1621)	Camillo Borghese	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.[59][original research?]
In tribulatione pacis.
236	80 In the trouble of peace	Gregory XV (1621–1623)	Alessandro Ludovisi	His reign corresponded with the outbreak of the Thirty Years’ War.[original research?]
Lilium et roſa.
237	81 Lily and rose	Urban VIII (1623–1644)	Maffeo Barberini	He was a native of Florence, which has a red lily on its coat of arms.[60][original research?]
Iucunditas crucis.
238	82 Delight of the cross	Innocent X (1644–1655)	Giovanni Battista Pamphili	He was raised to the pontificate around the time of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross after a long and difficult conclave.[original research?]
Montium cuſtos.
239	83 Guard of the mountains	Alexander VII (1655–1667)	Fabio Chigi	His family arms include six hills with a star above them.[61][original research?]
Sydus olorum.
240	84 Star of the swans	Clement IX (1667–1669)	Giulio Rospigliosi	The "star" in the legend refers Pope Alexander VII, who had made Clement his personal secretary.[61] The Italian word for swan, cigni, rhymes with Pope Alexander’s surname, "Chigi."[original research?]
De flumine magno.
241	85 From a great river	Clement X (1670–1676)	Emilio Altieri	Pope Clement was a native of Rome.[original research?]
Bellua inſatiabilis.
242	86 Insatiable beast	Innocent XI (1676–1689)	Benedetto Odescalchi	Pope Innocent had a lion on his coat of arms.[61][original research?]
Pœnitentia glorioſa.
243	87 Glorious penitence	Alexander VIII (1689–1691)	Pietro Ottoboni	His first name was "Pietro", after the apostle Peter who had repented after having denied Christ thrice.[original research?]
Raſtrum in porta.
244	88 Rake in the door	Innocent XII (1691–1700)	Antonio Pignatelli del Rastrello	His full name was Antonio Pignatelli del Rastrello.[62] "Rastrello" in Italian means "rake."[original research?]
Flores circundati.
245	89 Surrounded flowers	Clement XI (1700–1721)	Giovanni Francesco Albani	He had been a cardinal with the title of Santa Maria in Aquiro.[63][original research?]
De bona religione.
246	90 From good religion	Innocent XIII (1721–1724)	Michelangelo dei Conti	A play on words, referring to the pope’s regnal name. He was from the famous Conti family that had produced several Popes.[original research?]
Miles in bello.
247	91 Soldier in War	Benedict XIII (1724–1730)	Pietro Francesco Orsini	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.[original research?]
Columna excelſa.
248	92 Lofty column	Clement XII (1730–1740)	Lorenzo Corsini	When still a cardinal, he had held the titular church of St Peter in Chains.[64] 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.[original research?]
Animal rurale.
249	93 Country animal	Benedict XIV (1740–1758)	Marcello Lambertini	Might be a play on words because of his famous laws about missions in the two papal bulls‘‘.[original research?]
Roſa Vmbriæ.
250	94 Rose of Umbria	Clement XIII (1758–1769)	Carlo Rezzonico	He had been a cardinal with the titular church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli.[65] In mystical circles, the Virgin Mary is represented by a rose.[original research?]
Vrſus uelox.
251	95 Swift bear (later misprinted as Cursus velox Swift Course or Visus velox Swift Glance)	Clement XIV (1769–1774)	Lorenzo Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli	The Ganganelli family crest bore a running bear.[4]
Peregrin9 apoſtolic9.[66]
252	96 Apostolic pilgrim	Pius VI (1775–1799)	Giovanni Angelico Braschi	Spent the last two years of his life in exile, a prisoner of the French Revolution.[original research?]
Aquila rapax.
253	97 Rapacious eagle	Pius VII (1800–1823)	Barnaba Chiaramonti	The Pope’s pontificate was overshadowed by Napoleon, whose emblem was the eagle.[original research?]
Canis & coluber.
254	98 Dog and adder	Leo XII (1823–1829)	Annibale Sermattei della Genga	"Dog" and "snake" are common insults, and Leo was widely hated[citation needed]. The legend could be an allusion to the pope’s last name, Sermattei. "Serpente" is the Italian word for snake.[original research?]
Vir religioſus.
255	99 Religious man	Pius VIII (1829–1830)	Francesco Saverio Castiglioni	Another play on words, referring to the pope’s regnal name.[original research?]
De balneis Ethruriæ.
256	100 From the baths of Tuscany	Gregory XVI (1831–1846)	Mauro, or Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari	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.[67][original research?]
Crux de cruce.
257	101 Cross from cross	Bl. Pius IX (1846–1878)	Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti	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.[original research?]
Lumen in cœlo.
258	102 Light in the sky	Leo XIII (1878–1903)	Gioacchino Pecci	His coat of arms had a shooting star.[4]
Ignis ardens.
259	103 Burning fire	St. Pius X (1903–1914)	Giuseppe Sarto	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.[original research?]
Religio depopulata.
260	104 Religion destroyed	Benedict XV (1914–1922)	Giacomo Della Chiesa	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.[4]
Fides intrepida.
261	105 Intrepid faith	Pius XI (1922–1939)	Achille Ratti	Established Vatican City as a sovereign country with the papal office as head of state.[original research?]
Paſtor angelicus.
262	106 Angelic shepherd	Ven. Pius XII (1939–1958)	Eugenio Pacelli	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,[citation needed] some of which have yet to be revealed.[citation needed][original research?]
Paſtor & nauta.
263	107 Shepherd and sailor	Bl. John XXIII (1958–1963)	Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli	Patriarch of Venice, a maritime city (and a fomer naval power), from 1953 until 1958 when he was elected Pope.[original research?]
Flos florum.
264	108 Flower of flowers	Paul VI (1963–1978)	Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini	His coat of arms featured three fleurs-de-lis.[4]
De medietate lunæ.
265	109 From the midst of the moon	John Paul I (1978)	Albino Luciani	His month-long reign began with the moon half-full[citation needed].[original research?]
De labore solis.
266	110 From the labour of the sun	Bl. John Paul II (1978–2005)	Karol Wojtyła	Born (18 May 1920) on the day of a solar eclipse[68][69] and entombed (Friday 8 April 2005) on the day of a solar eclipse.[70][original research?] 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.’ [4]
Gloria olivæ.
267	111 Glory of the olive.	Benedict XVI (2005–present)	Joseph Ratzinger	Chose the regnal name Benedict after St Benedict of Nursia, founder of the Benedictine Order. The order’s crest contains an olive branch.[citation needed] 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.[original research?]
In ꝑſecutione extrema S.R.E. ſedebit.
	In the extreme persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit.[71]
Petrus Romanus, qui paſcet oues in multis tribulationibus: quibus tranſactis ciuitas ſepticollis diruetur, & Iudex tremẽdus iudicabit populum ſuum.[72] Finis.
268	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.	Unknown	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.[73]