Pope Francis calls Palestinian President an ‘angel of peace’

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Vatican Pope Francis

Pope Francis called Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas an “angel of peace” today:

May 16, 2015

VATICAN CITY— Pope Francis praised Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as an “angel of peace” during a meeting Saturday at the Vatican that underscored the Holy See’s warm relations with the Palestinians.

Francis made the compliment during the traditional exchange of gifts at the end of an official audience in the Apostolic Palace. He presented Abbas with a medallion and explained that it represented the “angel of peace destroying the bad spirit of war.”

Francis said he thought the gift was appropriate since “you are an angel of peace.” During his 2014 visit to Israel and the West Bank, Francis called both Abbas and Israeli President Shimon Peres men of peace.

Abbas is in Rome for the canonization Sunday of two 19th-century nuns from what was then Ottoman-ruled Palestine. The new saints, Mariam Bawardy and Marie Alphonsine Ghattas, are the first from the region to be canonized since the early days of Christianity.

Abbas on Saturday offered Francis relics of the two new saints.

Church officials are holding up the new saints as a sign of hope and encouragement for Christians in the Middle East at a time when violent persecution from Islamic extremists has driven many Christians from the region of Christ’s birth.

Abbas’ visit also comes days after the Vatican finalized a bilateral treaty with the “state of Palestine” that made explicit its recognition of Palestinian statehood.

The Vatican said it had expressed “great satisfaction” over the new treaty during the talks with the Palestinian delegation. It said the pope, and later the Vatican secretary of state, also expressed hopes that direct peace talks with Israel would resume.

“To this end, the wish was reiterated that with the support of the international community, Israelis and Palestinians may take with determination courageous decisions to promote peace,” a Vatican statement said.

It added that interreligious dialogue was needed to combat terrorism. http://www.voanews.com/content/pope-calls-abbas-angel-of-peace-during-visit/2771647.html

So, the Vatican wants to take up where the USA failed, but it decided to lavish fairly high praise on the Palestinian President.

Neither Israel nor Hamas seem to see President Abbas that way. Israel considers that he promotes violence and terror, whereas Hamas contends he is not the legitimate president:

November 3, 2014

Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the Palestinian Authority (PA), openly supported terrorism in a letter of condolence sent to the family of the gunman who tried to assassinate Rabbi Yehudah Glick last week in Jerusalem. Abbas, who is considered a “moderate Palestinian” and a “partner in peace with Israel,” endorsed the acts of Muatez Hijazi, the Islamic Jihad terrorist who attempted to murder Rabbi Glick, and was later shot by Israeli security forces as they tried to arrest him.

Abbas praised Hijazi as a defender of the Palestinians’ rights, and expressed rage at the Israeli security forces who killed him.

“We received with anger the announcement about the despicable crime perpetrated by the gangs of killing and terror in the Israeli occupation army, against [your] son, Muatez Ibrahim Hijazi, who rose to the heavens as a martyr for the defense of the rights of the Palestinian nation and the holy places.” …

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Abbas for the letter, stating that Abbas was responsible for the continuation of the wave of violence: “When we are trying to calm the situation, Abu Mazen [Abbas] sends condolences over the death of one who tried to perpetrate a reprehensible murder. The time has come for the international community to condemn him for such actions.”

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman supported Netanyahu blasting Abbas for this inflammatory letter of support for terror and murder.

“The letter of support the Chairman of the PA, Abu Mazen, wrote to the family of the terrorist who shot Yehuda Glick is indicative more than anything that Abu Mazen is in fact a partner: a partner to terror, a partner to terrorists, a partner to murderers.Abu Mazen’s despicable letter is an explicit support of terror and an encouragement for additional murders.”

He called on the international community to reject Abbas and denounce him for leading on the violence. http://unitedwithisrael.org/shocker-abbas-admits-he-supports-terrorists/

January 2015

Senior official Mahmoud Zahar says Palestinian leader should be more concerned with own people, not trying to win sympathy of world leaders. …

The Hamas official also called Abbas illegitimate leader of the Palestinian people as he and his Fatah movement had lost the 2006 election. He noted that Abbas’ legal term as president of the Palestinian Authority had also ended several years ago. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4614194,00.html

It is also reported that President Abbas (also known as Abu Mazen) and his family has personally amassed massive wealth through embezzlement and other forms of corruption.

That being said, the West may decide that Pope Francis’ praise may be what is needed to gain credibility with the Palestinians as the West would like to see peace in the region.

Pope Francis’ ecumenical and inter-faith movements are making progress. The time will come when there is a temporary peace deal in the Middle East. It will be hailed as a massive victory for the world. Yet, it WILL NOT RESULT IN REAL AND LASTING PEACE. The Bible shows that a certain deal, as explained in Daniel 9:27, will end in destruction. The breaking of the deal in Daniel 9:27 will usher in the start of the Great Tribulation, and the end of the USA (Daniel 11:39). And shortly thereafter (Daniel 11:40), War is Coming Between Europeans and Arabs!

The Bible also tells that the ecumenical/inter-faith movement will also end in destruction (Revelation 18). Pope Francis is working on both. The Bible tells of a religious power based in the area of Rome that commits ‘fornication’ with the kings of this world (Revelation 17:1-9) and we continue to see more political actions by Pope Francis. Consider also the following scriptures:

14…For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. (Revelation 13:11)

Pope Francis is very popular in the media–they often think he has a righteous message. Many agree with his inter-faith message, but it will not end up well (cf. Revelation 17-18).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment?
Gaza and the Palestinians in Bible Prophecy What does the Bible teach about Gaza and the fate of the Palestinians? Here is a link to a related video: Gaza and Palestine in Prophecy.
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
Why Should American Catholics Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Is doctrinal compromise good? Here is a link to a related video Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement?
Will the Interfaith Movement Lead to Peace or Sudden Destruction? Is the interfaith movement going to lead to lasting peace or is it warned against? A video of related interest could be Do You Know That Babylon is Forming?
United Nations: Humankind’s Last Hope or New World Order? Is the UN the last hope for humanity? Or might its goals end up with sinister results? A related video would be United Nations and Vatican Are Planning the New World Order.
Jerusalem To be divided and eliminated Many want Jerusalem. Who does the Bible teach will control Jerusalem? Will the Jews be forced out of Jerusalem and many made captive? What did Jesus teach about this? Are nations even now considering providing the prophesied armies to surround Jerusalem? What is Jerusalem Day? What is Nakba Day? What events should Christians watch in Jerusalem as signs that the Great Tribulation will begin? What is the solution to Jerusalem? This is a video.
Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future What does the Bible say about Jerusalem and its future? Is Jerusalem going to be divided and eliminated? Is Jesus returning to the area of Jerusalem?
Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 Who is 666? This article explains how the COG views this, and compares this to Ellen White. Here is a link to a prophetic video Six Financial Steps Leading to 666?
The Mark of Antichrist What is the mark of Antichrist? What have various ones claimed? Here is a link to a related sermon What is the ‘Mark of Antichrist’?
Mark of the Beast What is the mark of the Beast? Who is the Beast? What have various ones claimed the mark is? What is the ‘Mark of the Beast’?
Could Pope Francis be the Last Pope and Antichrist? Former Argentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio is now Pope Francis. According to some interpretations of the prophecies of the popes by the Catholic saint and Bishop Malachy, Pope Francis is in the position of “Peter the Roman,” the pontiff who reigns during tribulations until around the time of the destruction of Rome. Do biblical prophecies warn of someone that sounds like Peter the Roman? Could Francis be the heretical antipope of Catholic private prophecies and the final Antichrist of Bible prophecy? Could a Jesuit be “the black pope”?
Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy? Pope Francis has taken many steps to turn people more towards his version of ‘Mary.’ Could this be consistent with biblical and Catholic prophecies? This article documents what has been happening. There is also a video version titled Pope Francis: Could this Marian Focused Pontiff be Fulfilling Prophecy?
Will the Anglo-Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Prophecies of Barack Obama? Reasons why Barack Obama is apocalyptic and reasons why Barack Obama is not the Antichrist. This article includes many biblical and non-biblical prophecies, from around the world, that seem to discuss Barack Obama. Did Nostradamus predict Barack Obama dealing with the Antichrist? Might Barack Obama set the stage for the kings of the North and South as at least one Shiite prophecy suggests? Read it and decide for yourself if President Obama seems to be fulfilling various prophecies. Watch also the YouTube Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.