While reading the Prophecy of the Popes, I noticed that the entry for the 111 Pope in the series reads: Glory of the olive (Gloria oliviae). Wikipedia's article on this subject states: > Proponents of the prophecies generally try to draw a connection between Benedict and the Olivetan order to explain this motto: Benedict's choice of papal name is after Saint Benedict of Nursia, founder of the Benedictine Order, of which the Olivetans are one branch. Other explanations make reference to him as being a pope dedicated to peace and reconciliations of which the olive branch is the symbol. The olive is considered the symbol of peace. >The use of a dove and olive branch as a symbol of peace originated with the early Christians, who portrayed the act of baptism accompanied by a dove holding an olive branch in its beak and also used the image on their sepulchres. The dove appears in many funerary inscriptions in the Roman catacombs, sometimes accompanied by the words in pace (Latin for "in peace"). - Peace symbols (Wikipedia) When Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope, he took the papal name of Francis in honor of **St Francis of Assisi**. Furthermore St Francis of Assisi is also one of the patron saints of peace. My question is quite simple: **Are there any known Catholic authors who have tried to interpret the papal reigns of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis as being a single reign in order to make both of them fit into St Malachy's *Gloria oliviae* of his Prophecy of the Popes?** To be crystal clear, Pope Francis holds the keys of St. Peter and not Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. > “That is what I have said, indeed, that – if one wishes to specify it – it is very clear, the **Plena Potestas, the Plenitudo Potestatis** [full power, incarnate authority] is in the hands of Pope Francis. He is the man who has right now the succession of Peter. And then there are no difficulties left, as I also have said it. These two are also not in a competitive relationship. That is where one has to make use of common sense, as well as the Faith and a little bit of theology. Then one does not have at all difficulties to understand properly [sic] what I have said.” - [Interview: Archbishop Gänswein on Benedict, The Two Popes, and Prophecy](https://onepeterfive.com/interview-archbishop-ganswein-on-benedict-the-two-popes-and-prophecy/)

As might be well-known to some, and perhaps especially to Catholics, the name of [Saint Malachy](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Malachy) , a former Archbishop of Armagh, is often associated with the [Prophecy of the Popes](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prophecy_of_the_Popes) . Much of the recent interest in this prophecy appears not to come from within Catholicism itself. Is there a general consensus from within Catholicism on this seemingly important issue?

Reading through St. Malachy's Popes Prophecy , I couldn't understand a particular phrase: > 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 I have been searching the internet for some time now but I have not found any clue. What does _the city of seven hills_ refer to?

I was going to ask about the potential validity of the Saint Malachy's Prophecy of the Popes as I once did on "Catholic Answers" message board years ago, but doing a search to check for redundancy, I see someone else has asked something similar, so I'm spinning my question in a little different direction. Question on Status When I've talked to online Catholics about this prophesy it is often dismissed. New Advent's entry on it is a bit more neutral. >They were first published by Arnold de Wyon, and ever since there has been much discussion as to whether they are genuine predictions of St. Malachy or forgeries. The silence of 400 years on the part of so many learned authors who had written about the popes, and the silence of St. Bernard especially, who wrote the "Life of St. Malachy", is a strong argument against their authenticity, but it is not conclusive if we adopt Cucherat's theory that they were hidden in the Archives during those 400 years. I have noticed one thing. It seems like if you check the Coat of Arms and personal background of various popes, it seems like this prophesy has been fairly accurate! So I'm curious if there is any discussion and explanation of this in Catholic circles? At the very least, it appears to me that popes of the modern era, unofficially seem to be choosing their coat of arms, and maybe their name based on it.

I am a young Christian and at times I fall into traps that I read one thing that isn't written in the Bible then I believe it. I read the Prophecy of St. Malachy and now I am convincing myself that its 100% real and that after the next pope that is the end. I understand that Jesus said that 'No one will know the time or the season' but I still wonder. Should I understand this prophecy this way? Does the Bible contradict my understanding of it?