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A series of papal portraits in one of Catholicism's four major basilicas are said to predict the end of the world.
Built in the 4th century, this massive Roman church has undergone centuries of change and expansion, and along the way has become home to a series of pope pictures that are said to herald the end of the world. Along with the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, St. Paul’s Outside the Walls is one of four highest ranking churches in the Catholic hierarchy. The basilica managed to retain its original primitive—if ornate—architectural design for centuries after its construction. Unfortunately, a devastating fire swept through the ancient church in 1698, nearly destroying it.
