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Saint Malachy - the first Irish saint canonised by a pope - supposedly predicted the identities of all 112 popes after his life. Benedict is the 111th. Wikimedia Commons

A 12-century Irish saint reckons the next pope is the last

St Malachy – the first Irish saint to be canonised by a pope – had a prophecy concerning every pope between then and now.

SAINT MALACHY is not the most high-profile of saints – but the oncoming vacancy in the office of pope has thrust him back into the limelight.

Malachy is the supposed author of the ‘Prophecy of the Popes’ – a list allegedly written in 1139, but ‘rediscovered’ in 1590 – which claims to have predicted the identities (or at least attributes) of each pope between the time of its writing and the end of the Church.

While its authenticity is not affirmed by the Church itself, and while it is impossible to know whether the list was written retrospectively before it was first published in 1595, it appears to have been successful in some ways – though of course its predictions are suitably vague so as to apply to most cases anyway.

The argument that the list is a hoax gathers further weight with the fact that for each of the popes mentioned before 1590, it describes something historical about their upbringing or background – but only makes vague references to events in subsequent pontificates.

Nonetheless, the whole point of Malachy’s list – which is occasionally attributed to Nostradamus, supposedly to give the latter a way of publishing a prediction without having it stained by association with his name – is that it claims to predict the existence of 112 popes from the time of its writing.

The first of those popes is Celestine II; the 111th is the current pontiff, Benedict XVI. (The full list is outlined in detail on Wikipedia.)

The prophecy refers to the 112th pope as…

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.

While no pope since the first (St Peter, one of Jesus’ own disciples) has taken the name Peter, out of reverence for the man who brought the church to Rome, it is not unthinkable that the name could yet be taken on by another.

One of the frontrunners in the forthcoming election is Peter Turkson, a black cardinal from Ghana.

While there are many cities known as the ‘cities of seven hills’, Rome is the best-known one – though Jerusalem is also built on seven hills and could possibly be the city referenced.

Gallery: Meet the men who could succeed Pope Benedict XVI

Online: The best memes about the Pope’s resignation

Glossary: Some of the terms you’ll hear during the Papal election

Explainer: How is a new Pope chosen?

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    Mute Bill
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    May 17th 2013, 7:25 AM

    Vast majority of the population have no say in the makeup of the Seanad shut it down .

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    Mute Sean O'Sullivan
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    May 17th 2013, 7:08 AM

    Reform me arse! Shut it down!

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    Mute FlopFlipU
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    May 17th 2013, 7:26 AM

    If there were imperfections in the system why were they not ironed out by now ,did it suit to have them there .It,s jobs for the boy,s I think -put them on half pay like the rest of the working people and see
    how many of them turn up

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    Mute Itiswhatitis
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    May 17th 2013, 7:36 AM

    If we could see value . They are just a talking house with no power . The Dail can listen or ignore recommendations. The seante should have the ability to veto and block things.

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    Mute Godblessthecraic
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    May 17th 2013, 7:39 AM

    I can’t wait to vote for its abolition, that’s if Fine Gael keep their election promise……..they wouldn’t lie to get into power would they??

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    Mute gerbreen
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    May 17th 2013, 8:05 AM

    The Seanad has offered little to its citizens for many a year. Reform is not on the agenda as far as the referendum is concerned and has been frowned upon for years. Like the Dail it has a small number of successful people in the real world but they are too few in number and restricted by the whip. Unless I have been missing all these great successes of the upper house – I will be voting for its removal

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    Mute Itiswhatitis
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    May 17th 2013, 7:20 AM

    If I could see value I would be in favour however since FG got in no real change has happened so shut the place down.

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    Mute John Campbell
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    May 17th 2013, 8:10 AM

    Sorry, Senators Quinn and Zappone nice try but the people will not fall for it. Starting debate about changing the Senate is simply a smoke screen to hide the obvious which is that we simply cannot afford it and it serves little purpose save to award political ‘friends’ or groom prospective TDs. I note the proposal is for an ‘in house’ vote to make the change with the citizenry allowed no say. A straight yes or no vote in a referendum will do nicely thank you .

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    Mute Oisín Ó HAlmhain
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    May 17th 2013, 8:41 AM

    Perhaps the fact that the Seanad is used as a consolation prize by some people, and a place to raise profile and become TDs is part of the problem.
    If all seanad nominations had to be in before any Dáil General Election, and no sitting senator was allowed run for the Dáil, then the Seanad might have more respect.

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    Mute John Scott
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    May 17th 2013, 9:43 AM

    there has been lots of reports sitting some where in the big house on REFORM. so SENATORS Quinn Zappone may be u should have a read of them. now get rid if this house an use all 65000e that u all get put it to some good.

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    Mute Alan Burke
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    May 17th 2013, 7:34 AM

    There are more than enough TDs and high ranking civil servants to oversee the tasks outlined above. The Seanad has no place in our political system and should be abolished.

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    Mute Geraldine Lee
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    May 17th 2013, 7:10 AM

    Shitheads

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    Mute Irish Mule
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    May 17th 2013, 12:50 PM

    Can’t wait till this retirement home is shut down.

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    Mute Tom Brennan
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    May 17th 2013, 1:02 PM

    I read it like this “Seanad, …., blah blah, drone on about constitution, waffle, more sh!te talk, blah blah, here is my pay cheque thanks to you taxpayers…”

    Shut the bloody thing down – simples.

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    Mute Scarr
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    May 17th 2013, 9:44 AM

    I’d like to see the Seanad shut down to make way for an innovation fund – one project fully funded for up to 4 years on Seanad money. Project would eventually have to be self funding. or We could start a entrepreneurialism course in school, or programming or product design. Much better uses of money.

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    Mute Brian O'Sullivan
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    May 17th 2013, 10:46 AM

    We can’t abolish the Seanad without seeing some real reform of the Dáil as well. It’s already too easy for the Government to railroad legislation through the Dáil thanks to the whip system, and removing the Seanad will make that even easier.

    If the Government set out their proposals for real reform of the Dáil before the referendum and put mechanisms in places that assure those reforms WILL go through once the Seanad is removed, then I’ll consider voting yes. Until then, I’m voting no, because I just don’t trust the Government being left completely to their own devices to do what’s best for the country.

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    Mute tax slave
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    May 17th 2013, 3:38 PM

    For a small country we are to top heavy . . Too many chiefs not enough Indians .

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