ST.
PIUS X (1835-1914)
Giuseppe
Melchiorre Sarto, who became Pope Pius X on August 1903 died
August 20, 1914. Pius X is known for vigorously opposing modernist
interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting liturgical reforms
and orthodox theology. He was beatified on February 17, 1952 by
Pope Pius XII and canonised on May 29, 1954.
It is well
noted St. Pius X received visions regarding WWI and predicted it
would start with trouble in the Balkans, which came to pass, however,
there are two other visions attributed to him regarding a 'fleeing
pope'.
However,
while one of the two visions may be true, there is evidence some
unscrupulous individual added details, and in later reprints, we see
mixed up versions of the prophecy with quotes from an encyclical the
Saint wrote in 1903. So, we have to tease apart the visions from the
fake details.
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1) It is
alleged St. Pius X had the following vision “during an audience for
the general chapter of the Franciscan order in 1909”:
“What I see is terrifying! Will it be myself? Will it be my
successor? What is certain is that the Pope will quit Rome, and in
leaving the Vatican he will have to walk over the dead bodies of his
priests.”
(NOTE: Fr.
Culleton's book 'The Prophets and Our Times' first printed in 1941
seems to be the earliest English edition of any rendition of this
prophecy. His book was reprinted in 1974, and neither reprint
mentions that St. Pius X had this vision “during an audience for
the general chapter of the Franciscan Order” in 1909.
I cannot
find an early source from circa 1909 or any source in the close
decades after that to confirm this occurred in 1909 during the
General Chapter of the Franciscans at Assisi, or during an audience
with the Pope in Rome. The only information I can find regarding
this era is that Dionysius Schuler, was appointed the Superior
General of the Franciscans in 1903, and obviously was present at the
General Chapter, which occurred in Assisi on May 29, 1909, and that
the order celebrated the seventh centenary of its foundation.
(Source: https://www.ewtn.com/padrepio/franciscan/ofm.htm#General2)
Also, Fr.
Culleton's book does not have this exact wording, but the wording of
the 'second prophecy' that states St. Pius X knew it would not be him
but a successor.
Yves Dupont's book
also has the wording of the 'Second Prophecy'. “"I saw
one of my successors taking to flight over the bodies of his
brethren.” (Yves Dupont, “Catholic Prophecy: The Coming
Chastisement", TAN, 1971, 1973.)
So, while
St. Pius X may have had this vision, it appears someone fiddled with
it, and added the part about '1909', stating it happened during an
audience of some kind with the Franciscans when the order was
celebrating its 700th anniversary. No doubt adding this
detail was an attempt to make the prophecy sound more 'creditable' or
'appealing'.
It is more
likely the Second Prophecy below is the more creditable version.)
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2) The
Second Prophecy - just prior to his death (August 20, 1914), it is
alleged St Pius X had another vision:
"I have
seen one of my successors, by (the same) name, who was fleeing over
the bodies of his brethren. He will take refuge in some hiding place;
but after a brief respite he will die a cruel death.”
(NOTE /
OBSERVATIONS: Many reprints and other later books say 'of the same
name'. Fr. Culleton had noted in another section of his book that
St. Pius X saw the future pope would bear his name, but for some
reason Fr. Culleton did not add it to the prophecy itself.
Commentators believe the 'same name' means St. Pius X's first name
Giuseppe / Joseph, and not his papal name. As mentioned, Fr.
Culleton's book was printed in 1941, and reprinted in 1974 by TAN,
unfortunately Fr. Culleton did not cite his source.
Also, we
once more have evidence of added details to make the prophecy sound
more 'authentic', Fr. Culleton's book does not mention at all when
St. Pius X is supposed to have made this prophecy, and Yves Dupont
does not mention this in his book either. So, this detail about St.
Pius making this prophecy just before his death was obviously added
later, however, it doesn't necessarily mean the prophecy is false.
Unfortunately,
some people have used this prophecy to forge 'prophetic support' for
the strange 'Siri Thesis' concocted sometime
in the late 1980s by an American named Gary Giuffre. The
theory is that Cardinal Siri, whose first name was Joseph, was
elected pope in 1958 but was pressured by the liberal modernists to
renounce his election and was forced to go into hiding, a claim that
even the Cardinal rejected. Also, we note the prophecy did not come
to pass with regard to him having to flee over the dead bodies of his
priests, so it was obviously not about him.
It is more
likely this still applies to Pope Benedict XVI, whose first name is
Joseph. Of interest other prophecies particularly mention a
white-haired pope with the letter 'B' who will be made powerless,
and, other prophecies note in particular a white-haired pope when
Rome begins to enter into its crisis period. A pope fleeing over the
dead bodies of his priests sounds exactly like an invasion of Rome
and the Vatican, and, is in accordance with past prophecies. Check the Timeline, click here.)
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Next,
there is a sentence that is lately being attached to the 'death bed
vision' of St. Pius X -
“Respect
for God has disappeared from human hearts. They wish to efface even
God's memory. This perversity is nothing less than the beginning of
the last days of the world."
However, it
is not from a '1914' vision at all. This was part of a quotation
from St. Pius X's 1903 Encyclical “E Supremi”, which Fr.
Culleton included in his book of prophecies:
(From Fr.
Culleon's book): “We hold that you are not ignorant thereof what
an outrageous combat is everywhere going on in our time. In truth the
heathens and self-conceited nations are rebelling against their
Creator. The cry of God's enemies is: 'Depart from us.” (Job.
Xxi. 14 ) In most people respect for God has disappeared both
in public and in private life. They even go so far as to attempt to
obliterate even the memory of God. When we consider these facts you
must really feel that such wickedness is only the beginning of
those evils which are to come before the end of the world,
and that the
Son of Perdition of whom the Apostles speak, is already among us.”
(St. Pius X, 'E Supremi', 1903)
So this is
NOT from his 'deathbed prophecy', it has been misquoted or improperly
cited in other books. Also, please note St. Pius X did not say the
Antichrist was already on earth then, but that times were so evil it
must feel like the foretold signs were already happening. It 'feels'
like were are in a precursor period.
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In all, St.
Pius X may have made a prophecy regarding a 'fleeing pope' who would
bear the same name as him and that he knew it would be one of
successors.
I have found
no evidence against this, and, it corresponds with earlier
prophecies. The only issues are whether or not the first prophecy
was made up from the second prophecy, and if not, if the first
prophecy happened during an audience of some kind with the
Franciscans in 1909. Also, there is a question whether or not St.
Pius made the second prophecy before his death. However, until any
additional evidence against the it is found, it appears the basic
prediction of the prophecy may be read with discernment, and
therefore I have placed it in the Timeline.
