“On June 3, 1963 the news about the death of Pope St. John XXIII had just arrived in Garabandal. Conchita Gonzalez and her mother went toward the Church to pray for the eternal repose of the pontiff. On the way, Conchita heard interiorly the unmistakable voice of Our Mother who told her: ‘After this Pope, there will be only three, and after that will be the end of the times.’ Shortly thereafter, the Virgin clarified that while there would only be three popes, there would be another one, but he would ‘govern the Church for a very short time,’ and that was why She did not include him in the list. There are witnesses who affirm that they heard Conchita speaking on this precise matter during that same month of June of 1963.”  — Source: Fr. Saavedra, J.L., Garabandal: Message of Hope. Publ. Santander, 2015.

 

The Three Popes before the End of Times

It was June 3, 1963. The news of Pope John XXIII’s death had just reached Garabandal and Conchita made her way to the church with her mother to pray for the Pontiff’s eternal repose. On their way, Conchita hears the unmistakable voice of Our Blessed Mother in her saying, “After this pope, there are only three left. Then [it will be] the end of times.” Soon after, the Virgin Mary specifies that even though she says that only three are left, there will be another that will “govern the Church for a very short time,” which is why She does not include him on the list. There are witnesses that affirm hearing Conchita make this clarification during that very month: June 1963. This means that, in one sentence Our Blessed Mother prophesied two things:

1. There are only three popes left. Then it will be the end of times.
2. To assure us that her first affirmation is true, Our Blessed Mother provides a sign: “there will actually be one more pope, but his pontificate will be so brief that I do not count him.”

The above quote is from the article The Three Popes and the End of Times in Garabandal published in the website Garabandal. Going Deeper.

Many that try to find fault with the message of Garabandal have affirmed that by now FIVE popes have sat at the throne of Peter since 1963 and therefore, the prophecy is false. That point of view is only apparently correct since Our Lady predicted the beginning of the End Times. The third pope (Benedict XVI) is the last marker on the road to the End Times.

There are many things we can infer when we analyze this prophecy on the light of current events. The first one is the proof of truth that Our Lady added when she said that there was going to be a fourth pope, one that would reign so briefly that he would not be counted in the list. It is obvious now that was Albino Luciani, known also to us as Pope John Paul I.

The second thing we have to keep in mind is the fact that Our Lady did not say specifically that Benedict XVI was going to be the last to occupy the papal chair. That renders the following pontiffs as possible antipopes. Please meditate on these words of Jesus:

‘Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.’ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. (John 10:1-6)

Could it happen that after the last pope before the End Times, an usurper, a heretic, an impersonator or any other kind of false pope would seat on St. Peter’s chair just like the Pharisees sat on the Chair of Moses?

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,  ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat;  therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach.  They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues,  and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have people call them rabbi.  But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the One in Heaven.  Nor are you to be called teachers, for you have one Teacher, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12)

It is remarkable that St. Matthew places these words just previous to the apocalyptic discourse of Jesus in Matthew 24 and 25. Here we have a few identifying marks of the false religious leaders. Firstly, they do not practice what they preach. In today’s parlance: they are virtue signaling. They are very good at wearing their fake humility as a badge or a costume, disguising themselves as good shepherds to be “seen by others” —such actions are bait, empty signs, that will bring them the attention and honor they crave— as they act like demons, pretending to be gods to receive the worship reserved only to the True God. Do you see the parallelism?

All of that deception on the part of the false shepherds is meant to distract and —if possible— deceive the flock. But they are only deceiving themselves. They have their “complete reward” …

‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their full reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (cf. Matthew 6:1-6)

The final and perhaps more important thing we can infer is this: a careful analysis of Our Lady’s words to Conchita Gonzalez will reveal that we are living in the End Times since the demise of Pope Benedict XVI.

There are many other things we can learn. The messages of Our Lady have the same quality of the expressions found in Holy Scripture. They are compact enough but they unfold marvelously and contain in themselves a structure that proves their veracity.

We have much to consider as events unfold in the world these days. I have concluded that is a time for fasting and prayer for the devil, the “ruler of this world” has his days counted and it is about to be defeated and imprisoned for a long time. God has allowed us to live in this time, a time many saints would have lived in if they had the choice. For that very same reason, have no fear but rejoice because —if we act wisely— we will wear this badge of honor for eternity and it won’t be a self-imposed false signal of non-existent virtue but a true sign of God’s loving approval.

Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them.  If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those servants. (Luke 12: 35-38)