The prophecy was first published in 1595 by Arnold de Wyon, a Benedictine historian, as part of his book Lignum Vitæ. Wyon attributed the list to Saint Malachy, the 12th‑century bishop of Armagh in Ireland. According to the traditional account, in 1139, Malachy was summoned to Rome 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 Archive, and thereafter forgotten about until its rediscovery in 1590.
On the other hand, Bernard of Clairvaux’s biography of Malachy makes no mention of the prophecy, nor is it mentioned in any record prior to its 1595 publication. Some sources, including the most recent editions of the Catholic Encyclopedia, suggest that the prophecy is a late 16th‑century forgery. Some have suggested that it was created by Nostradamus and was credited to Saint Malachy so the purported seer would not be blamed for the destruction of the papacy. Supporters, such as author John Hogue, who wrote a popular book titled The Last Pope about the claims, generally argue that even if the author of the prophecies is uncertain, the predictions are still valid. There seems to be no indication that the papers were in fact a forgery except for the wild inaccuracies and reaching attributions of the later predictions when compared to earlier ones, assuming a 1580-1590 creation date.
Skepticism of the prophecy’s authenticity is from the general vagueness of each papal motto, leading to multiple interpretations, and that the prophecy’s mottos fit the earlier popes much better than they do those elected after the document’s first publication. Such similarities as exist between the later popes and their mottoes can be seen as a product of coincidence and the mottoes’ vagueness; that is to say, these later prophecies are susceptible to a confirmation bias.
Another example of the questioned authority of the prophecy is Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger’s choice of the name Benedict XVI, which was seen by some as the fulfilment the prophecy De Gloria Olivae, since it is claimed that the olive branch is sometimes used as a symbol of St. Benedict. However, prior to his election there were numerous speculations in the media as to what could be considered as “fulfillment of the prophecy”. For example, it was said that any pope from the Benedictine Order; or any Latin American pope (with olive complexion) or any black pope; or any pope from Italy or Spain (two countries strongly associated with the cultivation of olives); or any pope with links to Judaism—any of the aforementioned possibilities was advanced as constituting a fulfillment of the prophecy, giving a broad array of possibilities. It has also been noted that the choice of name, while interesting for those who predicted the choice of the name, was not statistically unlikely, as modern papal names are generally chosen from a fairly limited set of names. In the last 250 years, for example, there have only been seven names used for Popes: John, Benedict, Pius, Gregory, Paul, Leo, and John Paul. Media comments on Pope Benedict XVI’s choice of name have suggested that he seeks to emulate Pope Benedict XV’s legacy of diplomacy and theological conservatism.
Separate doubts are raised about the last entry, describing Petrus Romanus. Some claim that this was first recorded sometime after 1820 and so is often considered not to be part of the original prophecy.
Interpretation of the mottos has generally relied on finding correspondences between the mottos and the popes’ birthplaces, their personal arms, and the events of their pontificates. 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. Pope Clement XIII, referred to in the prophecy Rosa Umbriae, the rose of Umbria, who is stated to have used a rose “as his personal emblem” (his coat of arms does not include one, however, nor was he 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). The technique of word play was evident in instances where interpreters find a phrase fitting more than one explanation.
In recent times, some interpreters of prophetic literature have drawn attention to the prophecies, both because of their success in finding connections between the prophecies and recent popes, and because of the prophecies’ imminent conclusion. Interpretations made before the elections of recent popes have generally turned out not to predict their papacies accurately.
| Pope No. |
Reignal Name (Reign) |
Name |
Motto (Translation) |
Claimed Historical Reference or Explanation |
Coat of Arms |
| 167 |
Celestine II (1143-1144) |
Guido de Castello |
1 Ex Castro Tiberis
(From a castle on the Tiber) |
Hist.: Born in Città di Castello, Umbria, on the shores of the Tiber. |
|
| 168 |
Lucius II (1144-1145) |
Gherardo Caccianemici del Orso |
2 Inimicus Expulsus
(Enemy Expelled) |
This motto refers to Gheraldo 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. |
|
| 169 |
Eugene III (1145-1153) |
Bernardo dei Pagnelli di Montemagno |
3 Ex Magnitudine Montis
(From the Great Mountain) |
The motto refers to Pope Eugene’s last name, “Montemagno.” |
|
| 170 |
Anastasius IV (1153-1154) |
Corrado di Suburra |
4 Abbas Suburranus
(A Suburran Abbot) |
He was from the Suburra family. |
|
| 171 |
Adrian IV (1154-1159 |
Nicholas Breakspear |
5 De Rure Albo (From the White Field) |
Educated at the St Albans School in Hertfordshire. Nicholas Breakspear was the bishop of Albano before becoming pope. |
|
|
Antipope Victor IV (1159-1164) |
Ottaviano Monticello |
6 Ex Tetro Carcere
(Out of a Harsh Prison) |
He had been a cardinal with the title of St. Nicholas at the Tullian prison. |
|
|
Antipope Paschal III (1164-1168) |
Guido di Crema |
7 Via trans-Tyberina
(Road Beyond the Tiber) |
As a cardinal, he had held the title of Santa Maria in Trastevere. |
|
|
Antipope Callixtus III (1168-1178) |
Giovanni Di Strumi |
8 De Pannonia Tusciae
(From Tuscian Hungary) |
He was the Hungarian John, Abbot of Struma. |
|
| 172 |
Alexander III (1159-1181) |
Orlando Bandinelli Paparoni |
9 Ex Ansere Custode
(Out of the Guardian Goose) |
His family’s coat of arms had a goose on it. |
|
| 173 |
Lucius III (1181-1185) |
Ubaldo Allucingoli |
10 Lux in Ostio
(A Light in the Entrance) |
In 1159, he became Cardinal Bishop of Ostia. Lux may also be a wordplay on Lucius. |
|
| 174 |
Urban III (1185-1187) |
Umberto Crivelli |
11 Sus in Cribo
(A Sow in a Sieve) |
His family name, Crivelli, means a sieve in Italian. |
|
| 175 |
Gregory VIII (1187) |
Alberto De Morra |
12 Ensis Laurentii
(The Sword of Laurence) |
He had been the Cardinal of St. Laurence and his armorial bearing was a drawn sword. |
|
| 176 |
Clement III (1187-1191) |
Paolo Scolari |
13 De Schola Exiet
(Let Him Come Out of School) |
His family name was Scolari. |
|
| 177 |
Celestine III (1191-1198) |
Giacinto Bobone |
14 De Rure Bovensi
(From Cattle Country) |
He was from the Bobone family; a wordplay on cattle. |
|
| 178 |
Innocent III (1198-1216) |
Lotario dei Conti di Segni |
15 Comes Signatus
(Signed Count) |
Descendant of the Segni family. |
 |
| 179 |
Honorius III (1216-1227) |
Cencio Savelli |
16 Canonicus de Latere
(A Canon From the Lateran) |
He was a canon for the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, and had served as papal chamberlain in 1188. |
 |
| 180 |
Gregory IX (1227-1241) |
Ugolino dei Conti di Segni |
17 Avis Ostiensis
(Bird of Ostia) |
Before his election to the papacy, Ugolino dei Conti was the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia. |
|
| 181 |
Celestine IV (1241) |
Goffredo Castiglioni |
18 Leo Sabinus
(The Sabine Lion) |
He was Cardinal Bishop of Sabinaand his armorial bearing had a lion in it. Also a play on words, referring to the pope’s last name, Castiglioni. |
 |
| 182 |
Innocent IV (1243-1254) |
Sinibaldo Fieschi |
19 Comes Laurentius
(Count Laurence) |
He was the Cardinal-Priest of San Lorenzo in Lucca, and his father was the Count of Lavagna. |
 |
| 183 |
Alexander IV (1254-1261) |
Renaldo dei Signori di Ienne |
20 Signum Ostiense
(A Sign of Ostia) |
He was Cardinal Bishop of Ostia and member of the Conti-Segni family. |
|
| 184 |
Urban IV (1261-1264) |
Jacques Pantaleon |
21 Hierusalem Campaniae (Jerusalem of Champagne ) |
Native of Troyes, Champagne, later patriarch of Jerusalem. |
 |
| 185 |
Clement IV (1265-1268) |
Guido Fulcodi |
22 Draco Depressus
(A Dragon Held Down) |
His coat of arms had an eagle crushing a dragon. |
 |
| 186 |
Gregory X (1271-1276) |
Tebaldo Visconti |
23 Anguinus Vir
(A Snake-like Man) |
The Visconti coat of arms had a large serpent devouring a male child feet first. |
 |
| 187 |
Innocent V (1276) |
Pierre de Tarentaise |
24 Concionatur Gallus (A French Preacher) |
He was born in south-eastern France and was a member of the order of Preachers. |
 |
| 188 |
Adrian V (1276) |
Ottobono Fieschi |
25 Bonus Comes
(A Good Count (or Companion)) |
He was a count and a wordplay on “good” can be made with his name, Ottobono. |
|
| 189 |
John XXI (1276-1277) |
Pedro Julião |
26 Piscator Tuscus
(The Tuscan Fisherman) |
John XXI had been the Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum. |
 |
| 190 |
Nicholas III (1277-1280) |
Giovanni Gaetano Orsini |
27 Rosa Composita
(A Compound Rose) |
He bore a rose in his coat of arms. |
 |
| 191 |
Martin IV (1281-1285) |
Simone de Brion |
28 Ex Telonio Liliacei Martini
(From the Customs-House of Martin of the Lilies) |
He was Canon and Treasurer at the Church of St. Martin in Tours, France. |
 |
| 192 |
Honorius IV (1285-1287) |
Giacomo Savelli |
29 Ex Rosa Leonina
(Out of the Leonine Rose) |
His coat of arms were emblazoned with two lions supporting a rose. |
|
| 193 |
Nicholas IV (1288-1292) |
Girolamo Masci |
30 Picus Inter Escas
(A Woodpecker Among Fodder). |
He was from Ascoli, now called Ascoli Piceno, in Picene country. |
 |
| 194 |
St. Celestine V (1294) |
Pietro Di Murrone |
31 Ex Eremo Celsus
(Elevated From a Hermitage) |
Hist.: prior to his election he was a hermit. Also a play on words, referring to the pope’s chosen name, “Celestine.” |
 |
| 195 |
Boniface VIII (1294-1303) |
Benedetto Caetani |
32 Ex Undarum Benedictione
(From a Blessing of the Waves) |
His coat of arms had a wave through it. Also a play on words, referring to the pope’s Christian name, “Benedetto.” |
 |
| 196 |
Benedict XI (1303-1304) |
Nicholas Boccasini |
33 Concionator Patarens
(A Preacher From Patara) |
This Pope belonged to the Order of Preachers. Patara was the hometown of Saint Nicholas, a namesake of this Pope (born Nicholas Boccasini). |
 |
| 197 |
Clement V (1305-1314) |
Bertrand de Got |
34 De Fascis Aquitanicis
(From the Bonds of Aquitaine) |
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 as “fesses.” |
 |
| 198 |
John XXII (1316-1334) |
Jacques Duese |
35 De Sutore Osseo
(Of the Bony Cobbler) |
His family name was Duèze, D’Euze, D’Euzes, or Euse, the last of which might be back-translated into Latin as Ossa. The popular legend that his father was a cobbler is probably untrue. |
 |
|
Anti-pope Nicholas V (1328-1330) |
Pietro Rainallucci di Corvaro |
36 Corvus Schismaticus
(The Schismatic Crow) |
The motto is a play on words, referring to Pietro Rainallucci di Corvaro’s last name. |
|
| 199 |
Benedict XII (1334-1342) |
Jacques Fournier |
37 Frigidus Abbas
(Cold Abbot) |
He was an abbot in the monastery of Fontfroide (”cold spring”). |
|
| 200 |
Clement VI (1342-1352) |
Pierre Roger |
38 De Rosa Atrebatensi
(From the Rose of Arras) |
He was Bishop of Arras, (Latin: Episcopus Atrebatensis), and his armorial bearings were emblazoned with six roses. |
 |
| 201 |
Innocent VI (1352-1362) |
Etienne Aubert |
39 De Montibus Pammachii
(From the Mountains of Pammachius) |
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) |
|
| 202 |
Urban V (1362-1370) |
Guglielmo De Grimoard |
40 Gallus Vicecomes
(A French Viscount) |
He was born of a noble French family. |
|
| 203 |
Gregory XI (1370-1378) |
Pierre Roger de Beaufort |
41 Novus de Virgine Forti
(New From the Virgin Fort) |
From the Beaufort family and Cardinal of Santa Maria Nuova |
|
|
Anti-pope Clement VII (1378-1394) |
Robert, Count of Geneva |
42 De Cruce Apostilica
(From an Apostolic Cross) |
His coat of arms showed a cross, quarterly pierced. |
 |
|
Anti-pope Benedict XIII (1394-1423) |
Peter de Luna |
43 Luna Cosmedina
(The Moon of Cosmedin) |
He was the famous Peter de Luna, Cardinal of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. |
 |
|
Anti-pope Clement VIII (1423-1429) |
Gil Sanchez Munoz |
44 Schisma Barcinonicum
(A Schismatic From Barcelona) |
He was a Canon of Barcelona. |
|
| 204 |
Urban VI (1378-1389) |
Bartolomeo Prignano |
45 De Inferno Praegnani
(From Hell in Childbirth) |
His family name was Prignano or Prignani, and he was native to a place called Inferno near Naples. |
|
| 205 |
Boniface IX (1389-1404) |
Pietro Tomacelli |
46 Cubus de Mixtione
(The Block of Mixture) |
His coat of arms includes a bend chequy — a wide stripe with a checkerboard pattern. |
 |
| 206 |
Innocent VII (1404-1406) |
Cosmo Migliorati |
47 De Meliore Sidere
(From a Better Star) |
The prophecy is a play on words, referring to the pope’s last name, Migliorati. There is a shooting star on his coat of arms. |
 |
| 207 |
Gregory XII (1406-1415) |
Angelo Correr |
48 Nauta de Ponte Nigro (Sailor From the Black Bridge) |
He was Commendatarius of the Church of Nigripontis. |
|
|
Anti-pope Alexander V (1409-1410) |
Pietro Philarges |
49 Flagellum Solis
(Scourge of the Sun) |
His coat of arms had a large sun on it. Also, a play on words, referring to the pope’s last name, “Philarges.” |
 |
|
Anti-pope John XXIII (1410-1415) |
Baldassarre Cossa |
50 Cervus Sirenae
(Stag of the Siren) |
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. |
|
| 208 |
Martin V (1417-1431) |
Oddone Colonna |
51 Corona Veli Aurei
(Crown with the Golden Veil) |
Oddone Colonna was the Cardinal Deacon of San Giorgio in Velabro. The word “Velabro” is derived from “vela aureum”, or golden veil. His coat of arms had a golden crown resting atop a column. |
 |
| 209 |
Eugene IV (1431-1447) |
Gabriele Condulmaro |
52 Lupa Caelestina
(Celestinian or Heavenly She-Wolf) |
He belonged to the order of the Celestines and was the Bishop of Siena which bears a she-wolf on its arms. |
|
|
Antipope Felix V (1439-1449) |
Amadeus Duke of Savoy |
53 Amator Crucis
(Lover of the Cross) |
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.” |
 |
| 210 |
Nicholas V (1447-1455) |
Tommaso Parentucelli |
54 De Modicitate Lunae
(Of the Moon’s Temperance) |
He was born in Sarzana in the diocese of Luni, the ancient name of which was Luna. |
|
| 211 |
Callixtus III (1455-1458) |
Alfonso Borgia |
55 Bos Pascens
(Grazing Ox) |
Alphonse Borgia’s arms sported a grazing ox. |
|
| 212 |
Pius II (1458-1464) |
Enea Silvio de Piccolomini |
56 De Capra et Albergo
(From a She-Goat and a Tavern) |
He had been secretary to Cardinal Domenico Capranica and Cardinal Albergatti before he was elected Pope. |
|
| 213 |
Paul II (1464-1471) |
Pietro Barbo |
57 De Cervo et Leone
(From a Stag and a Lion) |
Possibly refers to his Bishopric of Cervia (a stag) and his Cardinal title of St. Mark (a lion). |
|
| 214 |
Sixtus IV (1471-1484) |
Francesco Della Rovere |
58 Piscator Minorita
(Minorite Fisherman) |
He was born the son of a fisherman and a member of the Minor Friars. |
|
| 215 |
Innocent VIII (1484-1492) |
Giovanni Battista Cibò |
59 Praecursor Siciliae
(A Fore-Runner From Sicily or 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. |
|
| 216 |
Alexander VI (1492-1503) |
Rodrigo de Borgia |
60 Bos Albanus in Portu
(Alban Bull in the Port) |
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 |
|
| 217 |
Pius III (1503) |
Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini |
61 De Parvo Homine
(From a Little Man) |
His family name was Piccolomini, similar to piccoli uomini = “little men.” |
|
| 218 |
Julius II (1503-1513) |
Giuliano Della Rovere |
62 Fructus Jovis Juvabit
(The Fruit of Jupiter will Help) |
On his arms was an oak tree, which was sacred to Jupiter. Pope Julius’ family name, “Della Rovere,” literally means “of the oak.” |
|
| 219 |
Leo X (1513-1521) |
Giovanni de Medici |
63 De Craticula Politiana
(From a Politian Gridiron) |
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. |
|
| 220 |
Adrian VI (1522-1523) |
Adriaan Florensz Boeyens |
64 Leo Florentius
(Florentine Lion) |
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.. |
|
| 221 |
Clement VII (1523-1534) |
Giulio de Medici |
65 Flos Pilaei Aegri (Flower of the Balls) |
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. |
|
| 222 |
Paul III (1534-1549) |
Alessandro Farnese |
66 Hiacynthus Medicorum
(The Hyacinth Among Physicians) |
Pope Paul’s coat of arms were charged with six hyacinths. Before his ascent to the papacy, Alessandro Farnese had held the title of Saints Cosmas and Damian. Cosmas and Damian were both doctors. |
|
| 223 |
Julius III (1550-1555) |
Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte |
67 De Corona Montana
(Out of the Crown the Mountain) |
His coat of arms showed mountains and palm branches laid out in a pattern much like a crown. |
|
| 224 |
Marcellus II (1555) |
Marcello Cervini |
68 Frumentum Floccidum
(Fluffy Wheat) |
His coat of arms showed a stag and ears of wheat. |
|
| 225 |
Paul IV (1555-1559) |
Giovanni Pietro Caraffa |
69 De Fide Petri
(Of the Faith of Peter) |
He is said to have used his second Christian name Pietro. |
|
| 226 |
Pius IV (1559-1565) |
Giovanni Angelo de Medici |
70 Aesculapii Pharmacum
(The Drug/Medicine of Aesculapius) |
His family name was Medici. |
|
| 227 |
St. Pius V (1566-1572) |
Antonio Michele Ghisleri |
71 Angelus Nemorosus
(Angel of the Grove) |
He was born in Bosco, (Lombardy); the placename means grove. His name was ‘Antonio Michele Ghisleri’, and Michele relates to the archangel. |
|
| 228 |
Gregory XIII (1572-1585) |
Ugo Boncompagni |
72 Medium Corpus Pilarum
(Half Body of the Balls) |
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. |
|
| 229 |
Sixtus V (1585-1590) |
Felice Pereti |
73 Axis in Medietate Signi
(An Axis in the Midst of Signs) |
This is a rather straitforward description of the pope’s coat of arms. |
|
| 230 |
Urban VII (1590) |
Giovanni Battista Castagna |
74 De Rore Caeli
(Of the Dew of the Heavens) |
He had been Archbishop of Rossano in Calabria where sap called “the dew of heaven” is gathered from trees. |
|
| 231 |
Gregory XIV (1590-1591) |
Niccolo Sfondrati |
75 De Antiquitate Urbis
(Of the Antiquity of the City) |
His father was a senator of the ancient city of Milan. The word “senator” is derived from the Latin word “senex”, meaning old man. |
|
| 232 |
Innocent IX (1591) |
Giovanni Antonio Facchinetti |
76 Pia Civitas in Bello
(Pious City in War) |
He was the Patriarch of Jerusalem before succeeding to the Papacy. |
|
| 233 |
Clement VIII (1592-1605) |
Ippolito Aldobrandini |
77 Crux Romulea
(The Roman Cross) |
He had been a cardinal with the title of Saint Pancratius. Saint Pancratius was a Roman martyr. |
|
| 234 |
Leo XI (1605) |
Alessandro Ottaviano De Medici |
78 Undosus Vir
(Man of the Surging Waves). |
He had been the Bishop of Palestrina. The ancient Romans attributed the origins of Palestrina to the seafaring hero Ulysses. |
|
| 235 |
Paul V (1605-1621) |
Camillo Borghese |
79 Gens Perversa
(The Corrupt Family) |
Pope Paul scandalized the Church when he appointed his nephew to the College of Cardinals. The word “nepotism” may have originated during the reign of this pope. |
|
| 236 |
Gregory XV (1621-1623) |
Alessandro Ludovisi |
80 In Tribulatione Pacis
(In the Disturbance of Peace) |
His reign corresponded with the outbreak of the Thirty Years War. |
|
| 237 |
Urban VIII (1623-1644) |
Maffeo Barberini |
81 Lilium et Rosa
(Lily and Rose) |
He was a native of Florence. Florence has a red lily on its coat of arms. |
|
| 238 |
Innocent X (1644-1655) |
Giovanni Battista Pamphili |
82 Jucunditas Crucis
(Joy of the Cross) |
He was raised to the pontificate after a long and difficult Conclave on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (off by a day). |
|
| 239 |
Alexander VII (1655-1667) |
Fabio Chigi |
83 Montium Custos
(Guardian of the Hills) |
His family crest includes six hills with a star above them. |
|
| 240 |
Clement IX (1667-1669) |
Giulio Rospigliosi |
84 Sydus Olorum
(Star of the Swans) |
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 last name, “Chigi.” |
|
| 241 |
Clement X (1670-1676) |
Emilio Altieri |
85 De Flumine Magno
(From a Great River). |
Pope Clement was a native of Rome. |
|
| 242 |
Innocent XI (1676-1689) |
Benedetto Odescalchi |
86 Bellua Insatiabilis
(Insatiable Beast). |
Pope Innocent had a lion on his coat of arms. |
|
| 243 |
Alexander VIII (1689-1691) |
Pietro Ottoboni |
87 Poenitentia Gloriosa
(Glorious Penitence) |
His first name was “Pietro”. The apostle Peter repented after he had denied his master three times. |
|
| 244 |
Innocent XII (1691-1700) |
Antonio Pignatelli del Rastrello |
88 Rastrum in Porta
(The Rake at the Door) |
His full name was Antonio Pignatelli del Rastrello. “Rastrello” in Italian means “rake.” |
|
| 245 |
Clement XI (1700-1721) |
Giovanni Francesco Albani |
89 Flores Circumdati
(Surrounded by Flowers) |
He had been a cardinal with the title of San Maria in Aquiro. |
|
| 246 |
Innocent XIII (1721-1724) |
Michelangelo dei Conti |
90 De Bona Religione
(Of a Good Religion) |
A play on words, referring to the pope’s chosen name, “Innocent.” |
|
| 247 |
Benedict XIII (1724-1730) |
Pietro Francesco Orsini |
91 Miles in Bello
(Soldier in War). |
|
|
| 248 |
Clement XII (1730-1740) |
Lorenzo Corsini |
92 Columna Excelsa
(The Lofty Pillar) |
When still a cardinal, he had held the title of St. Peter in Chains. The name “Peter” is derived from the Greek word “petros,” meaning “rock.” To quote from the New Testament, “Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.” |
|
| 249 |
Benedict XIV (1740-1758) |
Marcello Lambertini |
93 Animal Rurale
(Rural Animal) |
|
|
| 250 |
Clement XIII (1758-1769) |
Carlo Rezzonico |
94 Rosa Umbriae
(The Rose of Umbria) |
He had been a cardinal with the title of Santa Maria in Aracoeli. In mystical circles, the Virgin Mary is represented by a rose. |
|
| 251 |
Clement XIV (1769-1774) |
Lorenzo Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli |
95 Ursus Velox
(Swift Bear; also seen as Cursus Velox Swift Course or Visus Velox Swift Glance) |
It is often stated that Clement’s family crest bore a running bear; which is not true, nor did his own coat of arms as Pope. http://www.fondazionecarifano.it/metauro/MetauroWeb/Tema09/Arc452.htm for the family. |
 |
| 252 |
Pius VI (1775-1799) |
Giovanni Angelico Braschi |
96 Peregrinus Apostolicus
(Apostolic Wanderer or Pilgrim) |
Spent the last two years of his life in exile, a prisoner of the French Revolution. |
|
| 253 |
Pius VII (1800-1823) |
Barnaba Chiaramonti |
97 Aquila Rapax
(Rapacious Eagle) |
The Pope’s pontificate was overshadowed by Napoleon, whose emblem was the eagle. |
|
| 254 |
Leo XII (1823-1829) |
Annibale Sermattei della Genga |
98 Canis et Coluber
(Dog and Adder). |
“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. |
 |
| 255 |
Pius VIII (1829-1830) |
Francesco Saverio Castiglioni |
99 Vir Religiosus
(Religious Man). |
Another play on words, referring to the pope’s chosen name, “Pius”. |
 |
| 256 |
Gregory XVI (1831-1846) |
Mauro, or Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari |
100 De Balneis Etruriae
(From the Baths of Etruria) |
Pope Gregory XVI belonged to the Camaldolese order of monks. The Camaldolese order is said to have begun with two monastic houses. The first of these houses was Campus Maldoli, and the second was Fonte Buono. “Fonte Buono” is Italian for “good fountain.” |
|
| 257 |
Bl. Pius IX (1846-1878) |
Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti |
101 Crux de Cruce
(Cross of the Cross) |
Pope Pius IX suffered many crosses during his pontificate, but the greatest cross of all came from the House of Savoy, which reunited Italy and stripped the pope of his territorial possessions. The Savoy coat of arms is commonly depicted as a white cross over a red background. |
|
| 258 |
Leo XIII (1878-1903) |
Gioacchino Pecci |
102 Lumen in Caelo
(Light in The Sky) |
His coat of arms had a shooting star. |
|
| 259 |
St. Pius X (1903-1914) |
Giuseppe Sarto |
103 Ignis Ardens
(Burning Fire) |
See below |
 |
| 260 |
Benedict XV (1914- 1922) |
Giacomo Della Chiesa |
104 Religio Depopulata
(Religion Unpeopled) |
See below |
|
| 261 |
Pius XI (1922-1939) |
Achille Ratti |
105 Fides Intrepida
(Intrepid Faith) |
See below |
 |
| 262 |
Ven. Pius XII (1939-1958) |
Eugenio Pacelli |
106 Pastor Angelicus
(An Angelic Shepherd) |
See below |
 |
| 263 |
Bl. John XXIII (1958-1963) |
Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli |
107 Pastor et Nauta
(Shepherd and Sailor) |
See below |
 |
| 264 |
Paul VI (1963-1978) |
Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini |
108 Flos Florum
(Flower of Flowers) |
See below |
 |
| 265 |
John Paul I (1978) |
Albino Luciani |
109 De Medietate Lunae
(Of the Middleness of the Moon) |
See below |
 |
| 266 |
John Paul II (1978-2005) |
Karol Wojtyla |
110 De Labore Solis
(Of the Eclipse of the Sun, or from the Labour of the sun or from the pregnancy of the sun) |
See below |
 |
| 267 |
Benedict XVI (2005-) |
Joseph Ratzinger |
111 De Gloria Olivae
(The Glory of the Olive or “To the Olive”) |
See below |
 |
| 268 |
Unknown |
(Unknown) |
112 Petrus Romanus
(Peter Roman) In persecutione extrema S.R.E. sedebit Petrus Romanus, qui pascet oues in multis tribulationibus: quibus transactis ciuitas septicollis diruetur, et Iudex tremendus iudicabit populum. Finis.
(In extreme persecution, the seat of the Holy Roman Church will be occupied by Peter the Roman, who will feed the sheep through many tribulations; when they are over, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the terrible or fearsome Judge will judge his people. The End.) Most scholars believe that this prophecy was added at a later date. |
See below |
|
The motto means “ardent” or “burning fire”. The pope was known for his great personal piety and strong devotion to the church, advocating reforms such as the codification of Canon law, daily communion and the Gregorian chant in the Catholic liturgy. He was known for his zeal in fighting the modernist heresy. He was the first pope in over 400 years to be declared a saint, the last being Pope Pius V.
The motto means “religion laid waste”. During Pope Benedict XV’s reign, three significant events occurred:
The motto means “intrepid faith”. This pope released the encyclical Mit Brennender Sorge which condemned Nazi racism and also signed agreements with Fascist Italy which, among other things, gave the Vatican sovereig
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