Breaking News Pope dies on last day of 2022. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-64107731 Prayers going up.
the fact that he died on the last day of this year seems very significant for what 2023 will represent for the Church with the synod.
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine. Et lux perpetua luceat eis. Fidelium animae, per misericordiam Dei, requiescant in pace.
God speed your soul to heaven, Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI. Please keep us in your prayers as we keep you in ours.
Todays first psalm from the Divine Office of the Church seems very apropos. I also think its a sign that Benedict passed in this Christmastide and on the Eve of the Feast of Our Lady- Mary, Mother of God! I thank God for giving the universal Church a holy and wonderful Pope … one who I think we be a saint and even a doctor of the Church. O God, you are my God, I watch for you from the dawn. My soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you. I came to your sanctuary, as one in a parched and waterless land, so that I could see your might and your glory. My lips will praise you, for your mercy is better than life itself. Thus I will bless you throughout my life, and raise my hands in prayer to your name; my soul will be filled as if by rich food, and my mouth will sing your praises and rejoice. I will remember you as I lie in bed, I will think of you in the morning, for you have been my helper, and I will take joy in the protection of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand raises me up.
Wow, what an end to a year. The Church was very blessed to have him. He led such a interesting life in the service of God and humanity.
He was a humble silent bulwark against the enemies of God and the Church. I don't think the Enemy was allowed to touch him. He left us only when God willed to call him home.
I am wildly speculating here but....St Malacy's prophecies of the popes ( some call fraud on them but they are uncannily accurate) says the last of the line before Peter the Roman was the Glory of the Olive. The Benedictines'symbol is the olive branch. Our Lady told the children at Garabandal that there would be three popes after Paul VI and one would reign only a short time. Benedict is the 3rd pope. I believe Ouf Lady's words were "until these Catholic times come to an end." Glenn please correct me if I am wrong. So we are now awaiting Peter the Roman. I don't think that pope is PF quite honestly.
Hi AED. You are correct. St. Malachy's prophecy and the Garabandal prophecy regarding the number of TRUE popes remaining before "the consummation of the age" provide the key to understanding our situation. The mention of "Peter the Roman" at the end of St. Malachy's prophecy is definitely not referring to a future papal claimant after Benedict XVI. Benedict XVI is the final legitimate Pope. Each Pope mentioned in that prophecy was designated by a short phrase. The reference to "Peter the Roman" and the description that follows is totally different. "Peter the Roman" is not the next Pope. He is St. Peter, guiding the faithful Remnant, from Heaven during the final years of the Great Tribulation. Another location where the final Popes are counted is in Apocalypse 13 (which is an allusion to Daniel 7), the "heads" of the "Beast from the Sea" are noted to be seven. Those are the seven legitimate Popes, starting with Pope Pius XI and ending with Pope Benedict XVI (all legitimate monarchs of the Vatican City State implemented by the Lateran Treaty in 1929). The "eighth" head (the False Prophet and "Beast from the Earth") is mentioned in Apocalypse 17 as being "of the seven" (but illegitimately) and "going to perdition." This same word (perdition) is used to describe the "man of sin" in 2 Thessalonians 2 as the "son of perdition." So this "eighth" (illegitimate) head is the same as the "man of sin." That person is Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Why Bergoglio? Because Bergoglio is the man who is behind the "apostasy" of synodality. See George Weigel's recent article. The "synodal church" takes its orders not from God but from the whispers of the "holy spirit" discerned by the "people of God." These false brethren guided by these whispers will claim that "the holy spirit" has told them that homosexual behavior and marriage (among other things) are not sins. The new "synodal church" will take that false discernment as the new teaching of "the Catholic church." Those disagreeing with that new teaching will be labelled as "backwardists" and will be excommunicated. The leader of the synodal movement is "the false prophet" and "the antichrist" spoken of in prophecy and Catholic teaching.
The situation is that Pope Francis is the Pope, He has been accepted by the Cardinals, the question of his legitimacy or otherwise is for them to decide. It is not for us to decide!! This is very important to remember. Hold onto the full Catholic Faith and move forward in faith. Peace to all on the forum and Blessings for the new year.
Please be careful PNF, this is not a position a Catholic can hold. Rejecting the authority of a sitting Pope is the sin of schism. I understand we are in confusing times, but the Church is very clear on this matter. A private Catholic may not decide for themselves if a Pope is valid or not. That is for the Church to decide.
This is Sede Vacantist and claims that the See of Peter is Vacant. It is not. Pope Francis is Pope. To teach anything else is heretical. He may be the worst Pope in history, but we're still stuck with him, he's the Pope, like it or not.
I have a funny feeling that something truly momentous is about to happen in Rome. Does anybody else have the same looming feeling, like storm clouds gathering? I have a feeling that if I was visiting I would be booking a plane out, fast as could be.
