The world's bookies are doing a thriving business placing odds on who the next pope will be, while journalists are keeping themselves busy, and their readers confused, by reporting the latest speculation on who it will be.

But all these people need to do is sit down over a capuccino at a Roman cafe and survey the prophecies of a 12th-century archbishop, Saint Malachy.

He has it all sorted out. He has even named the new pope, sort of.

Sadly, also, he has told us we haven't much longer to live. But more of that later.

Two possible candidates

Depending on how you intepret Malachy, the next pope will either be France's Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger or Ennio Antonelli, the archbishop of Florence.

During a visit to Rome in 1139, Malachy, according to accounts that emerged from documents discovered in the 16th century but never authenticated, had a strange vision that revealed to him a long list of illustrious pontiffs who were to rule the Church until the end of time.

Distinguishing traits revealed

He did not foresee their names, but rather a distinguishing trait, or an allusion to a country, coat of arms or insignia — given in Latin — of each of the 112 popes that were to succeed Celestine II, who was elected in 1130.

For example, Malachy's prophecy concerning Urban VIII was Lilium et Rosa (lily and rose). The arms of Urban's native Florence featured a fleur-de-lis. He also had three bees emblazoned on his escutcheon, and the bees gather honey from the lilies and roses.

This is where the story gets complicated, and a bit frightening.

Only two popes left

According to Malachy, who doesn't have a bad batting average, even if many of the traits have been attributed to new popes after they are elected, John Paul II was the third-to-the-last pope.

Yes, only two more will follow, including the one about to be elected.

Malachy's clue to his identity is Gloria olivae (the glory of the olive tree).

Saint Paul, in his Letter to the Romans, describes the Jews as a cultivated olive tree. So that points to the "Jewish" cardinal, 78-year-old Jean-Marie Lustiger, born in Paris to a family of Polish Jews and originally named Aaron, who converted to Catholicism when he was 14.

From the land of olive trees

Problem is, Archbishop Antonelli also fits.

One of his former classmates in seminary school, Don Angelo Fanucci, has long been convinced that he will win the papacy — on the basis of Malachy's prophecy.

Fanucci noted that not only is Antonelli from Umbria, "the land of olive trees," but also the Florence archbishop's staff bears "the sun — symbol of glory — and an olive tree. For this reason, I've always predicted to him that he will be the next pope," Fanucci told the Ansa news agency.

Nostradamus says...

Just to top off the story, a Colombian author has predicted that the next pope will be assassinated, and that his death will spark a Muslim invasion of the West that will split the Church.

Gonzalo Ehceverri is the author of a book on another prophet, a 16th-century French physician known as Nostradamus, who also issued a string of prophecies on future popes.

"The next pope elected will be subsequently murdered in central Italy. Then comes pope number 112, who will flee Rome because of an attack by Muslims," Echeverri told AFP.

According to Echeverri, the pope will base himself in Avignon, France, and another pontiff will take control in Italy, splitting the Church in two.

"There is a very clear prophecy that says the Holy Father will move to another place, even warning that the French pope will not be able to stay in Avignon due to the Muslim invasion and will flee again to Lyon, where he will be attacked, according to Nostradamus," Echeverri said.

Avignon was a base for popes for much of the 14th century, another time of grave divisions in the Church and Europe.

Nostradamus' supporters say he predicted the French revolution, the rise of Hitler and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

AFP