St. Malachy's Papal prophecies

St. Malachy was born Maelmhaedhoc O'Morgair, in Armagh, Ireland, in 1094 AD. His surname was latinized to Malachy, as from early in his life he studied the teachings of Catholicism, eventually becoming Primate of Armagh, the office which he held until his death in 1148. (We know much about his life because the much-better-known St. Bernard of Clairvaux wrote his bio.

However, the main point of interest in Malachy is his list of future Popes that he wrote and entrusted to Pope Innocent II, probably in the year 1140. Innocent apparently placed the list in an obscure place in the Vatican's annals, and it wasn't "discovered" until the 1500s, and published by a historian named Arnold Wion in a book called Lignum Vitre.

I have neither the time nor space to discuss the numerous arguments about the legitimacy of these predictions, but, having read them, I've seen that, while Malachy doesn't name any Popes but possibly the last one, he describes them by any of the following...some symbol on a coat-of-arms, some major action this pope performed, either as Pope or earlier in life, by some special attribute of his, or by some world event that took place during his reign.

Some say these predictions are forgeries and that it's easy to match a given Pope to a description after the fact, but the indisputable evidence proves that the predictions were made no later than 1559, and that they have been fairly accurate.

Was St. Malachy truly a prophet? We Baptists all know a prophet must be 100% accurate to be a prophet of GOD'S. And it's said Malachy predicted England would harass Ireland(true) and that England would become Catholic, leave Catholicism as its state religion, then return to it. (Not 100% true, at least not yet...unless one considers the brief reign of "Bloody Mary" to have been a "return".) But now, let's return to the main subject...the Popes.

His predictions about the recent Popes:

John XXIII-PASTOR ET NAUTA, pastor and mariner. He was the best-loved Pope by non-Catholics in modern times. And before his election to the Papacy, he occupied the SEE OF VENICE, which would just about automatically have made him a mariner to some extent.

Paul VI-FLOS FLORUM, flower of flowers. His coat-of-arms bore three fleurs-de-lis.

John Paul I-DE MEDIETATE LUNAE, of the half-moon. This alludes to his coat-of-arms. No connection is found to his brief reign(34 days) nor to his controversial death & even more controversial cremation very soon after his death.

Present Pope, John Paul II-DE LABORE SOLIS, from the toil of the sun. He was born during a total eclipse of the sun.

Apparently, this Pope's reign will soon end, in either death or retirement. Malachy gave predictions for only TWO MORE POPES to follow JPII. Here are his descriptions:

GLORIA OLIVAE, the glory of the olive. One possibility is that he will come from the order of St. Benedict, whose members are also known as OLIVETANS. Of course, there are many more possibilities.

Last is PETRUS ROMANUS, Peter the Roman. This prediction is a fillip for those who believe the AC will be a Pope of Roman descent. At this time, however, there are only grounds for endless speculation until we see who that Pope will be.

His predictions end with:

"In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Peter the Roman, who will feed his flock among many tribulations; after which the seven hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people".

As a Baptist & Sola Scriptura person, I tend to be VERY skeptical of such predictions not found in Scripture, but I believe these predictions bear discussing. WHAT THINKEST THOU?