THE SUCCESSION OF THE POPES.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
Sni,—The prophecy assigning mottoes to the various Popes is commonly attributed to St. Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh and a friend of St. Bernard, though I believe that it cannot actually be traced back before the sixteenth century. In many cases, however, the motto assigned seems curiously suitable. " Aquila Rapes," or " The Rapacious Eagle," certainly suited Pius VII., harried and carried off into captivity by the Imperial Eagle, Napoleon. " De Balneis Etruriis," or " From the Baths of Tuscany," was not assigned to Leo XIII., as your correspondent " E. D." thinks, but to a Pope, whose name I regret not to remember, who was of the Camaldolese Order. Now, the founder of this Order came from a place in Tuscany called, I think, Balnei. "Crux de Cruce " for Pius IX. is appropriate to a Pope who was deprived of the temporal power by a King of the House of Savoy, in whose armorial bearings a cross is very conspicuous. " Lumen in Ccelo," or " A Light in Heaven," was the motto given to Leo XIII., who had a star in his coat of arms, and whose great Encyclical on Capital and Labour " Rerum Novarum is a most luminous ex- position of Catholic Democracy, avoiding both Capitalism and Bolshevism. " Ignis Ardens," or " A Burning Fire," goes to Pius X., who, in the flame of his peasant's faith, set himself to " restore all things in Christ." " Religio Depopulate," or "Religion Devastated," suits Benedict only too piteously well, whether we consider a fratricidal war or the ruin of Rheims and Louvain. To the present Pope is assigned "Fides Intrepida," or " Faith Unterrified." A Pope in these times certainly stands in need of such faith : time will no doubt show the suitability of the motto. But does it not, even now, seem suitable to one who has been an intrepid mountain climber? Ten remain on the list, as "E. D." says, among
them "Pastor Angelicus," 'Pastor et Nauta," " Flos de Vlore," "Be Medietate Lunae," or " From the Half Moon," —does this, perchance, point to a peril from Islam?—and "De Gloria Olivae," which seems to point to a time of great peace. Last of all comes Peter the Roman, in the times of the " last persecution of the Roman Church." This seems to hint at the return of St. Peter himself in the days of Antichrist, but is very obscure. The origins of this prophecy are certainly unknown; but its curious suitability to the nineteenth century has caused many to regard it as truly inspired. A. pamphlet has recently come out in Ireland on this subject. The Universe (Arundel Street, W.C. 2) and the Catholic Times (8, Bouverie Street, E.C. 4) have printed articles on it since the late Pope's death, and I have no doubt the Catholic Encyclopaedia has reliable information.—I am, Sir,
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