Myths and legends surrounding the Papacy: Encyclopedia II - Myths and legends surrounding the Papacy - The Vicarius Filii Dei myth

Myths and legends surrounding the Papacy - The Vicarius Filii Dei myth

Main article: Vicarius Filii Dei

One common myth surrounding the papal tiara suggests that the words Vicarius Filii Dei exist on the side of one of the tiaras. This myth is believed by many conservative Seventh-day Adventist church members (and was once officially taught), but is now contrary to the official belief of that church.

The myth centres on the widely made claim that, when numerised (i.e., when those letters in the 'title' that have roman numeral value are added together), they produce the number '666', described in the Book of Revelation as the number of the Antichrist (whom some have claimed would 'wear' a crown similar to a triple tiara). This claim has been made by some conservative Protestant sects who believe that the Pope, as head of the Roman Catholic Church (in their cosmology, the Whore of Babylon), is the Antichrist. However, a detailed examination of all the tiaras shows that no such decoration exists.

Further, "Vicarius Filii Dei" (Vicar of the Son of God) is not among the titles of the Pope; the closest match is "Vicarius Christi" (Vicar of Christ, also rendered in English as "Vicar of Jesus Christ"), the numerical values of which do not add up to 666.

There is also a dispute on the numerology of "Vicarius Filii Dei" and "Vicarius Christi". If one counts the letter 'U' as that, the numbers add up to 661 and 209; however, the Romans did not have that letter but instead used 'V'; therefore, if one uses the Roman spelling "Vicarivs Filii Dei" one does indeed come up with 666 (Vicarivs Christi, the real title, comes up to 214).

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "The Vicarius Filii Dei myth", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki