Papal Myths and Legends

Among the most prevalent myths and legends surrounding the figure of the Pope is the belief that the papal tiara contains the words Vicarius Filii Dei (“Vicar of the Son of God”) which when put into roman numerals and added up equals the number 666. In the Book of Revelation, the number 666 is described as the number of the Beast (False Prophet or Antichrist). Some Protestant sects identify the Pope as the Beast or Antichrist because he is the head of the Catholic Church. This belief is based on a misapprehension, however, because the motto “Vicar of the Son of God” does not appear on any papal tiara.

Another popular myth related to the papacy is the so-called “Prophecy of the Popes.” This myth is based on a series of 112 prophecies attributed to Saint Malachy, the twelfth century bishop of Armagh in Ireland and first published at the end of the sixteenth century. The prophecies take the form of cryptic mottos that describe each Pope and his reign.

According to some interpretations, Joseph Ratzinger is the penultimate Pope because by taking the regnal name “Benedict” he fulfilled the 111th prophecy, which describes the next-to-last Pope as the “Pope of the olive.” Proof of this claim rests on the notion that the olive branch is sometimes associated with St. Benedict of Nursia and that since becoming Pope, Benedict XVI has stressed the cause of world peace (the olive branch).

Meet the Expert:  Philip Jenkins