Clemente Domínguez y Gómez

Clemente Domínguez y Gómez (23 May 1946 – 22 March 2005) was a founder of Palmarian Christianity, a religion found mainly in Spain, and was believed by some to be a mystic.

Under the name Pope Gregory XVII, he led the Palmarian Church, which, he argued, Jesus intended to replace the Roman Catholic Church during the end times.

His claims were not taken seriously by Roman Catholics and other Christians, the vast majority of whom were unaware of his existence.

Palmarianism has continued to the present day, with fewer followers than it possessed during Dominguez's lifetime.

Clemente Domínguez y Gómez was born in Seville, Spain.

He became closely associated with the Palmar de Troya movement, which had its origins in an alleged apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Palmar, on 30 March 1968, in El Palmar de Troya, a village near Utrera in the Province of Seville.

He claimed to have experienced visions of the Virgin Mary beginning on 30 September 1969.

He claimed that the Virgin condemned heresy and progressivism, namely the reform of the Roman Catholic Church as a result of Vatican II.

His followers claimed he possessed the stigmata on his hands.

The Roman Catholic Church has cast doubt on the legitimacy of the alleged visions and apparitions.

In December 1975, Clemente Domínguez founded his own religious order, The Carmelites of the Holy Face, allegedly upon instructions from the Blessed Virgin Mary in an apparition.

Domínguez, who assumed the name Father Ferdinand,, was consecrated a bishop by Roman Catholic Archbishop Pierre Martin Ngô Đình Thục in January 1976.

Archbishop Thục was subsequently excommunicated for his consecrations, which were deemed valid but illicit.

Domínguez was also excommunicated latae sentientiae.

In May 1976, Domínguez lost his eyeballs in a car accident.

He claimed further visions, including visions from Jesus, who purportedly told him: "You shall be the Peter to come, the pope who will consolidate the Faith and the Church in her integrity, who shall battle against heresy with great power, for legions of angels shall assist you...Great Pope Gregory, Glory of the Olives..."

He also claimed that Christ had named him His sub-vicar, with the automatic right of succession to the papacy after Pope Paul VI.

On August 6, 1978, Pope Paul died, and Domínguez claimed the papacy, proclaiming himself Pope Gregory XVII.

Domínguez claimed that he was visited by Christ, along with Saint Peter and Saint Paul, who told him:

"The reign of the Glory of the Olives has begun...a great day today, in which you are vested with the office of Pope, on this feast of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor—Feastday of the Holy Face, of the Order of which you are the Founder and Father General. The great Pontificate of the Glory of the Olives begins: The Pope foretold by many mystics and in many prophecies; the Pope who unites in his veins the blood of Spain, the noble blood of Spain, with the true blood of France and with the blood of the chosen people, the Jewish people. There, the grandeur! He will not delay long before taking up the sword and fulfilling the mission of emperor and great monarch....It was also foretold in prophecies in past times how this pope would be elected: namely through the direct intervention of the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. There is no other way of opposing the official election in conclave in Rome from which the antipope will come....Only the simple and humble of heart will recognize the true Pope: Pope Gregory XVII."

On 15 August 1978, Pope Gregory XVII was crowned pope by four of his newly created college of cardinals in a coronation held in Seville, Spain.

During his papacy, he purported to canonize General Francisco Franco and Christopher Columbus.

According to his supporters, Pope Gregory XVII was destined to be the last pope and would be crucified and die in Jerusalem.

In the 1986 Spanish comedy film Manuel y Clemente, Clemente is played by Ángel de Andrés López.

In the 1990s, Gregory XVII was accused of sexual impropriety with various priests and nuns.

In 1997, he admitted to this and begged forgiveness.

He died on 22 March 2005, in El Palmar de Troya and was succeeded by Manuel Corral, who took the name Pope Peter II.

Incidentally, the papacy of Gregory XVII closely overlapped that of Pope John Paul II.

He died, aged only 58, a mere 11 days prior to the death of his "rival," John Paul II.

Domínguez was canonized as a saint by Corral on 24 March 2005, two days after his death.

He has subsequently been referred to by adherents of the Palmarian Church as "Pope Saint Gregory XVII the Very Great".

On 29 July 2005, Corral declared that Domínguez's soul did not spend time in purgatory, but ascended directly to heaven.