Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence
Sitting on a massive gold and red throne and dressed in white, a smiling Francis implored his audience to "not cede to the bitterness and pessimism that the devil offers us every day." Instead, the church must "find new ways to spread the word of God to every corner of the world." Many analyses of Saint Malachy's prophecy note that it is open to the interpretation that additional popes would come between the "glory of the olive" and Peter the Roman. Popular speculation by proponents of the prophecy attach this prediction to Benedict XVI's successor. Since Francis' election as Pope, proponents in internet forums have been striving to link him to the prophecy. Theories include a vague connection with Francis of Assisi, whose father was named Peter Saint Malachy (1094 – 2 November 1148) was an Irish saint and Archbishop of Armagh, to whom were attributed several miracles and an alleged vision of 112 Popes later attributed to the apocalyptic list of Prophecy of the Popes. He was the first Irish saint to be canonised by Pope Clement III in 1199. Peter the Roman, who will pasture his sheep in many tribulations, and when these things are finished, the city of seven hills [i.e. Rome] will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. A discussion of this prophecy can be found following the biography of the new Pope
