The Last Billboard

Are You Offended?

MILAN, Italy, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Authorities in Milan, Italy, have banned a billboard featuring an all-female version of Leonardo Da Vinci's Last Supper. The French fashion house Marithe et Francois Girbaud said the billboard publicity campaign was inspired by Dan Brown's novel "The Da Vinci Code. The billboard ad features women surrounding what seems to be a female Christ, with the only male sitting bare-chested on a woman's lap in a provocative pose, reported the BBC Sunday. Italy's advertising watchdog said the billboard's use of Christian symbols -- including a dove and a chalice -- "inevitably recalls the very foundations of the Christian faith."

And I thought the Italians were so enlightened. Speaking of Italy, did you know that we are on the third to last Pope? As context, please understand that I have no religious affiliation at all, I never went to church (except to hear my brother sing in a choir a few times), and I believe in a higher power but I don't refer to her as God. I was watching a show on prophecy the other day (gotta love The History Channel) and they brought up St. Malachy and his predictions. This was fascinating stuff to me, something I could actually watch in the next 15 years to see if it comes true or not. Here's a short synopsis of what I'm talking about:

In 1138, St. Malachy predicted the entire succession of 112 Catholic popes from Celestinus II (the pope in Malachy's day) to doomsday. St. Malachy of Armagh made a chilling prophecy in 1139 that the world would end with the death of the 112th pope. The current pope, John Paul II is the 3rd to last remaining pope, according to Malachy. Malachy called him "De Labore Solis" - "from the Sun's labor" and John Paul II was born on a total eclipse. The 2nd to last pope is identified by Malachy as "Gloria Olivae" - "glory of the olive". (Some prophets believe this pope will take Leo XVI for his name and will bring peace between Israelis and Arabs). St. Malachy predicts that Pope John Paul II's successor will be an active peace-making member of the religious hierarchy. But he will die in 2008 with his work unfinished and the next pope - called Peter of Rome ("Peterus Romanus") - will rule until the Apocalypse in 2020.

As far as my limited research can establish, the Apocalypse doesn't mean literally the end of the world or even the Second Coming (if you're so inclined), but rather the demise of the Catholic Church, with members leaving in droves due to the culmination of world events and internal struggles, ending with the agreement that a Pope is no longer required. Google St. Malachy if you are interested, there are tons of sites and a few excellent books on the topic. Who knew?