Pope Francis pushes for European unity with singularities

This map of the Holy Roman Empire (1444) is mesmerising pic.twitter.com/tUgSJWl3Lo

— Neil Renic (@NC_Renic) April 10, 2022

COGwriter

Zenit, a pro-Vatican website, posted the following (bolding in source):

Pope Francis Highlights Europe’s Challenge: Unity in Diversity

On Thursday, March 23, 2023, Pope Francis received in audience — in the Consistory Hall –, the participants in the Plenary Assembly of the Commission of the Episcopates of the European Union (COMECE). The day before, COMECE elected Italian Monsignor Mariano Crociata as its new President.

Following is the Holy Father’s address in English, translated from the Italian original …

I would like to dwell briefly with you today on two focal points, which correspond to the two great “dreams” of Europe’s Founding Fathers: the dream of unity and the dream of peace.

Unity. On this first point, it is crucial to make it clear that European unity cannot be a uniform, homogenising unity, but on the contrary, it must be a unity that respects and values the singularities, the particularities of the peoples and cultures that comprise it. Think of the Founding Fathers. They belonged to different countries and different cultures: De Gaspari and Spinelli, Italian; Monnet and Schuman, French; Adenauer, German; Spaak, Belgian; Beck, Luxembourger, to name the main ones. The wealth of Europe resides in the convergence of various sources of thought and historical experience. …

Europe has a future if it is truly a Union and not a reduction of the countries with their respective characteristics. The challenge is precisely this: unity in diversity. …

We wonder: what is the role of Christian inspiration in this challenge? There is no doubt that in the original phase it played a fundamental part, because it was in the hearts and minds of the men and women who initiated the undertaking. Today a lot has changed, certainly, but it is still true that it is the men and women who make the difference. Therefore, the first task of the Church in this field is that of forming people who read the signs of the times, who know how to interpret the project of Europe in today’s history.

And here we come to the second focal point: peace. History today needs men and women inspired by the dream of a Europe united in the service of peace. …

It also takes prophecy, it takes foresight, it takes creativity to advance the cause of peace. Both architects and craftsmen are needed in this building site; but I would say that the true builder of peace must be both architect and craftsman: the true builder of peace is thus. I also wish this for each of you, well aware that each one of you has his or her own personal charisms that contribute with those of the others to the common task. https://zenit.org/2023/03/23/pope-francis-highlights-europes-challenge-unity-in-diversity/

As far as diversity within unity goes, religiously that was the Babylonian system that the ancient Roman Empire adopted. All religions were basically tolerated as long as they would accept the Roman emperor as supreme.

Regarding creativity, I believe that Pope Francis is referring to humans acting apart from the word of God. Ancient Rome did that too.

As far as biblical prophecies go, a compromised power in Europe that does not stick well together is what the Bible foretells:

1 … “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”

3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written:

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:1-5)

41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. 43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. (Daniel 2:41-43)

As far as history goes, Pope Francis seems, to a degree, to be pointing to the old so-called Holy Roman Empire which arose around 800 A.D.–centuries after the fall of the western Roman empire. While that empire also died, the Bible tells of a power in Europe that looks dead, but will rise up;

1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. (Revelation 13:1-4)

The sea referred to above is the Mediterranean Sea (cf. Daniel 7:2-8; Numbers 34:6-7; Joshua 1:4; 9:1; 23:4; Ezekiel 47:13-16), hence that Beast rising from the sea is European.

Desmond A. Birch, a Roman Catholic writer, has made the following observations about his church’s view of prophecy and a new ‘Holy Roman Empire’:

Several private prophecies of canonized Saints specifically state that there will be a latter restoration of the Holy Roman Empire and that there will be at least one last Holy Roman Emperor. The authenticity of the authorship of such prophecies of canonized Saints (e.g., St. Hildegard, St. Vincent Ferrer, St. Francis of Paula, and St. John Vianney) at least over the last eight hundred years is scholastically unquestionable.

We are left with the options that:

(1) the prophecies are genuine,

(2) all of the Fathers and Saints, throughout the centuries who attested to some form of this tradition were deluded or mistaken in exactly the same way, or

(3) that they were all liars and part of a massive Catholic conspiracy which has spanned seventeen centuries, within which they are managed to tell exactly the same lies. (Birch DA. Trial, Tribulation & Triumph: Before During and After Antichrist. Queenship Publishing Company, Goleta (CA), 1996,, p.281)

I would tend to suggest that there are other options to consider. I believe that various Greco-Roman Catholic “prophets” have sometimes been deluded by demons and some have made statements from “the desires of their heart” (cf. Romans 1:2 Rheims NT) or “their imaginations” (KJV). It seems that certain of these prophecies are part of a Satanic conspiracy, sometimes with “Catholic” complicity, that has spanned more than seventeen centuries.

I would like to also emphasize the fact that not all the “prophecies” are written exactly the same way, which is consistent with demonic influence–as some “private prophecies” are in blatant contradiction to others. Furthermore, related to the final “Holy Roman Emperor”, there are many Greco-Roman Catholic and biblical prophecies that warn that the one who will raise up an ecumenical, changed church (apparently calling itself “Catholic”) and that this is NOT a good thing. It seems that some “Catholic” writers have unintentionally advocated the rise of one that sounds the same as the Beast of Revelation 13 (see also The Great Monarch: Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies).

Notice something from the old Worldwide Church of God:

Throughout the Middle Ages, leaders considered the Church at Rome to be God’s chosen instrument in spiritual matters. The Holy Roman Empire was regarded as God’s chosen political organization over Western Christendom. Pope and Emperor were regarded as God’s vice-regents on earth. This intimate alliance of Church and State served the needs of both institutions. The Empire exercised its political and military powers to defend religion and enforce internal submission through religious uniformity. The Church, in turn, acted as a glue for Europe, holding together the differing nationalities by the tie of common religion.

This ideal in Church-State relations was never completely realized, as we have seen in the frequent conflicts between Emperors and Popes … numerous revivals of the Roman Empire have arisen in Europe in the centuries since the fall of ancient Rome.

In Revelation 17, these revivals are represented by the seven heads of a wild animal. Six have already occurred, from Justinian to Mussolini. One last restoration of this great political system is yet to arise. This confederated Europe will be an immense political, military and economic power — a great Third Force in world affairs, a superpower in its own right. Prophecy further reveals that this powerful church-state union will be composed of “ten horns” — meaning 10 nations or groups of nations (Rev. l7:3) — under the overall leadership of a single political figure (verse 13). Europe will again have a single political head of state!

Moreover, prophecy foretells that a religious figure of unprecedented power and authority will sit astride the “empire,” directing it as a rider guides a horse (Rev. 17:3). To counter the ongoing spread of atheism, secularism and consumerism, the Vatican — as in centuries past — will be forced to become a major power in the international arena. The political muscle of the Papacy will be reinvigorated. (Stump K. The History of Europe and the Church. Ambassador College Publications, 1984)

As far as popes go, Pope Francis does have a plan for a Roman Empire and it includes Europe.

Pope Francis was given the 2016 ‘Charlemagne Prize’ (Pope Francis wins the ‘Charlemagne Prize’)–a prize given to the one who is recognized for promoting the most European unity.

The idea of a revived ‘Holy Roman Empire’ is not just some ‘pipe dream.’

When Europe was still recovering from being devastated in World War II, after attending a conference related to the start of the UN, in the December 1948 issue of The Plain Truth Herbert W. Armstrong predicted a coming “United States of Europe” when he wrote:

It was the SERMON that shot forth that spark, impregnating the minds of world leaders in attendance. This amazing sermon was delivered by a foremost radio speaker of the Catholic Church, Bishop Duane G. Hunt of Salt Lake City … Without the guidance, supervision, authority of the Catholic Church, he told these men, they were laboring in vain …

This was the Roman Catholic bid to resurrect the so-called “HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE” ! And PROPHECY says they will succeed! … At the psychological time, the pope will step in … Thru this political movement, he will UNIFY … nations in Europe. It will be a “The UNITED STATES OF EUROPE,” but that probably will never become its official name. (Armstrong HW. Now It Can Be Told…The Plain Truth, December 1948, pp. 2,5).

Notice that the Roman Catholic church expected to be involved and that Herbert W. Armstrong agreed with that.

Herbert W. Armstrong also warned:

In the 17th chapter of Revelation we find a beast, and a woman — a great, wealthy woman called “a whore” — who was riding the beast.

The Bible describes the symbol “woman” to mean a CHURCH. See II Cor. 11:2; Rev. 19:7; Eph. 5:23-27. On the other hand, “beast” is a symbol of a KINGDOM, or EMPIRE. The woman of the 17th chapter is described beyond possibility of doubt as the church which did reign over the kingdoms of the Holy Roman Empire. …

Prior to 554, Justinian had written a letter to the pope, acknowledging his supremacy in the West. And when he restored the empire in the West in 554, the popes dominated the Western Empire from Rome. The Roman Empire, thus restored to continue until 1814 (1260 years), became known later as “The HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE.” We read in history that the popes were accepted as the “Vicars of Christ,” which means “IN PLACE OF Christ.” The teaching was that the Second Coming of Christ had occurred — Christ had returned to earth, as KING of kings and as LORD of lords, in the person of the popes. The millennium had begun.

For the entire 1260 years, the emperors accepted the popes as such, ruling the nations with a “rod of iron” as Christ is to do WHEN He really comes. Consequently they acknowledged the supreme religious power of the popes. The Church was organized as a GOVERNMENT — as a dual, two-fold government (symbolized by its TWO horns or kingdoms — for “horns” symbolize kingdoms also — see Dan. 7:24). It embodied CHURCH government, and it also was a STATE, or civil government, always occupying a certain amount of territory over which it, alone, ruled as an independent sovereign state — in addition to actually ruling over the vast civil kingdom called the Holy Roman Empire. Even today, it is a separate, independent, sovereign STATE. …

ALL who understand Bible prophecy that this 17th chapter of Revelation pictures the Roman Catholic Church ruling over the so-called Holy Roman Empire. …

Notice {Revelation 13} verse 14: “And DECEIVETH them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast.” Verse 13 says “he doeth great wonders.”

All Nations Deceived

So notice these three points:
(1) This beast performs miracles.
(2) He performed them “in the sight of” the Holy Roman Empire, or the first beast.
(3) With them he DECEIVED all nations. (Armstrong HW. Who is the Beast? Radio Church of God, 1960)

The Bible points to a religion with deceptive signs being a factor in the coming European Babylonian beast power.

Now, Pope Francis mentioned peace a few times.

The Bible warns that the Beast leader will arise promising peace:

25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:25, KJV).

23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. (Daniel 11:23-24, NKJV)

So this leader gives people the impression that there will be “peace” and is involved in some type of deal. This is the same leader that confirms the covenant in Daniel 9:27 (see also The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 ). The term is translated as “peace” in Daniel 8:25 is from the Hebrew term shalvah and essentially means security. In other words, this leader will destroy “many” who are under the impression that they are secure because of some type of security, unity, and/or trade arrangement.

Anyway, scripture suggests that the type of peace and Babylonian European unity Pope Francis and those like him are pushing will be accomplished by one who will feign being peaceful.

Will the European Union last as it is or will it reorganize into something like a revived ‘Holy Roman Empire’?

Well, the Bible clearly shows that Europe will reorganize under a ruler called the King of the North in Daniel 11:31-40 who is also is called the Beast in Revelation 17:12-13:

12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (Revelation 17:12-13)

(More on the reorganization is discussed in the article: Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations?)

It will take various crises for the singular states in Europe to decide that there is no choice but to reorganize. And that will end up being a type of forced totalitarian and Babylonian unity by the beast.

Scripture teaches that the European Beast is to rise up and begin persecution (cf. Daniel 11:28-35) after the four horsemen of the Apocalypse (Revelation 6:1-8) begin their rides (cf. Revelation 6:9-11).

Despite complaints, problems, and disunity in Europe, Europe will fulfill its biblically-prophesied role (cf. Daniel 2:41-43). A leader promising peace and prosperity will rise up. The Bible shows that this will include the involvement of a claimed “virgin” (Isaiah 47) that really is a harlot (Revelation 17 & 18) is expected. And that will not bode well for the UK, USA, or their Anglo-allies (Daniel 11:39), nor ultimately the Europeans.

Steps towards a disunited European unity are actually being taken.

But there is good news!

Jesus will, 3 1/2 years after the Great Tribulation starts, return and establish the millennial Kingdom of God . The Beast and his supporters will have to face Jesus:

14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” (Revelation 17:14)

15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying:

“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.” (Revelation 11:15-18)

Biblical prophecies, including those related to Europe and the Kingdom of God, will come to pass.

Update 03/26/23: We just put together and uploaded the following related video:

14:34

European Babylonian Singularity

On March 23, 2023, Pope Francis spoke before COMECE, which is the Commission of the Episcopates of the European Union. He stated that European unity cannot be uniform, but that it needed to be a unity recognizing the singularities of the peoples and cultures in Europe. He said the two dreams of Europe’s founding fathers were for unity and peace. He wanted his church to help inspire this, but also repeatedly pointed to history. Europe’s history involved the ancient Roman Empire and what has been called the ‘Holy Roman Empire.’ Have Greco-Roman Catholics pushed the idea of a future ‘Holy Roman Empire’ over the centuries? Even though that empire died, could that be consistent with passages in Revelation 13? Does the Bible warn about a coming Babylonian singularity, being led by one who will promise peace? Is some type on a Babylonian church-state alliance prophesied in the Bible? Is Europe to reorganize after the four horsemen of the Apocalypse begin their rides? Will this turn out well for the USA, UK, or Europe? Is there any good news? What about the return of Jesus? Dr. Thiel and Steve Dupuie address these matters.