Might Pope Benedict XVI Resign?

Pope Benedict XVI

The following was part of the announcements in LCG services yesterday:

Will Pope Benedict XVI Resign? The Pope will turn 85 this month. His health issues and comments he has made in the past have some expecting his resignation. In early March, two different reports appeared in Italian newspapers (Il Foglio, March 10; and Libero, March 11), “…advancing the hypothesis that Benedict XVI might resign, in part for the sake of influencing the choice of his successor.” Proponents of the idea that the Pope might resign refer to comments he made in 2010 and to comments he made before becoming pope, that, “If a pope clearly realizes that he is no longer physically, psychologically, and spiritually capable of carrying out the duties of his office, then he has the right, and in some circumstances the obligation, to resign.” Opponents of the idea cite a lack of preceden t, and also the “crisis in faith” that having an acting Pope and a “retired Pope” (both considered the “Vicar of Christ”), would create in the church (VaticanInsider.LaStampa.it, September 25, 2011; chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it, March 16, 2012). It has been said, “Leaders think in terms of years or decades, while popes think in terms of centuries.” The Vatican has long been influential in international politics and the papacy has been an important part of the enterprise. Bible prophecy reveals that a “world church” will play a major role in the formation and backing of the end-time European Beast power (see Revelation 17). Whether the current Pope resigns or not remains to be seen. However, we can rest assured that this intelligent Pope has carefully thought through the implications and impact of any decision he will make.

Possibly because of how he saw the ailing Pope John-Paul II handle his last years, the current pontiff does not feel that an overly aging pope is sufficiently effective.

There are Catholic prophecies that tell of a time that there is an aging pope who may have to flee to Germany. If this is going to be fulfilled, it is possible that the current pope, who is German will fulfill that. Perhaps it should be mentioned according to Catholic prophecy, only one pope is remaining and according to other Catholic prophecy, this final pope could become an antipope and be the final Antichrist. This is discussed in my book 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect, where I also state that I do not believe that Pope Benedict will be the antipope, final Antichrist.

Pope Benedict XVI was in the news today:

Pope calls for end to Syria bloodshed

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CNN – 8 April 2012

(CNN) — Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday called for an end to violence in Syria, as well as a renewed peace effort in the Middle East…”Particularly in Syria, may there be an end to bloodshed and an immediate commitment to the path of respect, dialogue and reconciliation, as called for by the international community, he said.

The Vatican has long had interest in the Middle East and would seem destined to support what appears to be a prophesied European confirmed peace deal mentioned in Daniel 9:27 (cf. Daniel 8:25, KJV). We are likely to see more violence in the Middle East before a substantive peace deal is agreed to for a time.

Although he makes various public statements, the goal of this pope seems to be to improve ties with the Eastern Orthodox (and others where possible), but this (though it also is part of Catholic prophecy) is dangerous from a biblical perspective. Whether or not he resigns or accomplishes this prior to the end of his pontificate remains to be seen.

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics The talks for unification involve compromise and the apparent rising up of a changed religion that no one should accept.
Catholic Prophecies: Do They Mirror, Highlight, or Contradict Biblical Prophecies? People of all faiths may be surprised to see what various Roman and Orthodox Catholic prophets have been predicting as many of their predictions will be looked to in the 21st century.
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Living Church of God? Do you know that both groups shared a lot of the earliest teachings? Do you know which church changed? Do you know which group is most faithful to the teachings of the apostolic church? Which group best represents true Christianity? This documented article answers those questions. Português: Qual é fiel: A igreja católica romana ou a igreja viva do deus? Tambien Español: Cuál es fiel: ¿La iglesia católica romana o La Iglesia del Dios Viviente? Auch: Deutsch: Welches zuverlässig ist: Die Römisch-katholische Kirche oder die lebende Kirche von Gott?
The History of Early Christianity Are you aware that what most people believe is not what truly happened to the true Christian church? Do you know where the early church was based? Do you know what were the doctrines of the early church? Is your faith really based upon the truth or compromise?
What Do Roman Catholic Scholars Actually Teach About Early Church History? Although most believe that the Roman Catholic Church history teaches an unbroken line of succession of bishops beginning with Peter, with stories about most of them, Roman Catholic scholars know the truth of this matter. This eye-opening article is a must-read for any who really wants to know what Roman Catholic history actually admits about the early church.
Nazarene Christianity: Were the Original Christians Nazarenes? Should Christians be Nazarenes today? What were the practices of the Nazarenes.
Location of the Early Church: Another Look at Ephesus, Smyrna, and Rome What actually happened to the primitive Church? And did the Bible tell about this in advance?
Apostolic Succession What really happened? Did structure and beliefs change? Are many of the widely-held current understandings of this even possible? Did you know that Catholic scholars really do not believe that several of the claimed “apostolic sees” of the Orthodox have apostolic succession–despite the fact that the current pontiff himself seems to wish to ignore this view? Is there actually a true church that has ties to any of the apostles that is not part of the Catholic or Orthodox churches? Read this article if you truly are interested in the truth on this matter!
Early Church History: Who Were the Two Major Groups Professed Christ in the Second and Third Centuries? Did you know that many in the second and third centuries felt that there were two major, and separate, professing Christian groups in the second century, but that those in the majority churches tend to now blend the groups together and claim “saints” from both? “Saints” that condemn some of their current beliefs. Who are the two groups?