On October 7, 1571 Pope Pius V, during a meeting with a group of cardinals, abruptly stood up and opened a window before staring motionlessly outside. Some time later, he turned, dissolved the meeting and ordered everyone present to give thanks to God for the victory of the Christian fleet against the Turks. No one knew what he was talking about, and needless to say the incident was so unexpected that the Vatican treasurer noted it in the minutes of the meeting. Two weeks later, word came to Rome that a combined fleet of Italian and Maltese ships commanded by Don Juan of Austria had triumphed over the Turks at the battle of Lepanto. One of the largest naval battles in history, it happened precisely at the date and time of the Pope’s vision. One wonders if anyone bothered to tell him, since he apparently already knew.
Shopping Cart
