Vatican on ‘high alert’ for terrorism

Vatican City

Vatican security is taking terror threats seriously and is on high alert:

March 11, 2015

Vatican security groups are staying on high alert in the Holy See after fresh threats against Pope Francis from the extremist group calling itself Islamic State, according to a high-ranking official.

Quoting the Pope’s chief bodyguard Domenico Giani, Catholic News Service reported that all Vatican security forces are vigilant for the Holy See. …

“There are not only the threats of the Islamic State, but also the risk of action by individuals, which is more dangerous because it is unpredictable,” said Giani, the head of the gendarmes. …

“The threat exists,” Giani said. “That is what has emerged in meetings with my Italian and foreign colleagues.

“But the existence of a threat is one thing and planning an attack is another. At this time, we have not been informed of any plans to attack the Vatican or the Holy Father.” http://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/vatican-security-stays-on-high-alert-due-to-is-threats-of-holy-see-attack-28631#ixzz3U5FaILF6

Representatives of the Islamic State have made threats against the Pope and/or Vatican in the past (see,for example, Egypt bombs Libyan stronghold for Islamic State after Copts are killed).

Various Catholic saints/leaders have warned about actual and potential destruction coming to Rome/Vatican City in the end times. Here are a few of them:

Anne Catherine Emmerich (October 1, 1822) “The Church,” she groaned, “is in great danger. I must ask every one who comes to see me to say an Our Father for that intention. We must pray that the Pope may not leave Rome, for unheard-of evils would result from such a step. We must pray the Holy Ghost to enlighten him, for they are even now trying to exact something of him… If the Pope leaves Rome, the enemies of the Church will get the upper hand… –ruin is at hand. (Emmerich AC. The Life of Lord Jesus Christ and Biblical Revelations. Schmöger edition, Vol. IV. Nihil Obstat: D. Jaegher, 14 Februari 1914. Imprimatur: A.C. De Schrevel, Brugis, 14 Februari 1914. Reprint TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 2004, p.298)

Blessed Anna Maria Taigi (died 1837): “described to me the great ordeal ahead. Rome would be battered by revolutions…Millions of men would die by the sword in war and civil strife, other millions would perish in unforeseen death. Then entire nations would return to the unity of the Church, and many Turks, Pagans and Jews would be converted and their fervour cover with confusion the original Christians. In one word she told me that our Lord was intending to cleanse the world and His Church…” (Bessieres A. Wife, Mother and Mystic (Blessed Anna Maria Taigi). Nihil Obstat: Carlos Davis, S.T.L. Imprimatur: E Morrough Bernard, Westmonasteri, die Februari, 1952. Reprint TAN Books, Rockford (IL), 1982, p. 166).

Old Saxon Prophecy. “The seven-headed city, now more admirable than Jerusalem, shall be a place more desolate than Jerusalem. The Dog shall enter Germany but shall afterwards forsake his master and choose for himself a new man, whereby Scripture shall be fulfilled. This Dog shall signify the Turk which shall forsake his Mohammed and choose unto him the name Christian…But after all these things the end of the world shall approach, and there shall be heavey and pitiful days.”

Comment: The seven-headed city is probably Rome…(the comment is from Dupont personally, Dupont, pp.23-24)

Also notice:

Sister Ludmilla of Prague (cir. 1250): Hardly three generations will pass after the world war, when one will also endeavor to prevent the Pope from exercising his sacred office, which will be a sign that the fall of Rome and the end of the world is near (Culleton, Reign of Antichrist, p. 131).

Now, if a generation is 20 years, and if WWII is the world war (which ended in 1945), then shortly after 2005 will be near the end of the world. If a generation is 40 years, and if WWI in the world war (which ended in 1918), then shortly after 2038 will be near the end of the world.

Since WWII was more of a global world war, it is likely that this would be the war–the question is how long is a generation supposed to be in this context? And that is not completely clear.

Yet, even if it a generation is supposed to be 20 or 40 years or something in-between, that Catholic predictor (Ludmilla of Prague) seem to be indicating the end is in the 21st century.

Notice also:

G. Rossi (1873): We must observe that St. Malachy does not mention the last Pope as a distinct person from the preceding one, whom he styles Glory of the Olive. He merely says, “During the last persecution of the Church, Peter II, a Roman, shall reign. He shall feed the flock in many tribulations, at the end of which the City of the Seven Hills (Rome) will be destroyed, and the awful Judge shall judge his people.” According to St. Malachy, then, only ten, or at most eleven, popes remain to be in future more or less legitimately elected. We say more or less legitimately elected, because out of those future popes it is to be feared that one or two will be unlawfully elected as anti-popes. (Rossi, p. 139)

While we should not trust Catholic prophecies to the level of scripture, they should be understood within the context of scripture. Since the Bible itself tells of of the time of the end of the City of Seven Hills/Mountains (Revelation 17:9-18 New Living Translation/DRB), some of these events may end up being related.

Here is some information from my book, The Last Pope:

According to Catholic prophecy:

An antipope will arise.

A pope will hold an ecumenical council that satisfies heretics and results in a more ecumenical religion being accepted.

The vast majority of Catholics will accept the antipope.

A pope that performs miracles will arise.

People around the world will accept the faith that this miracle-performing pope endorses.

A pope that supports the “Great Monarch/Prince of the North” will arise.

The Great Monarch, that the pope supports, will eliminate the Anglo-descended nations.

The “Great Monarch/Prince of the North,” that the pope supports, will eliminate an Islamic confederation.

A pope will reign with the Great Monarch for around four years.

The destruction of Rome comes after tribulations that a pope oversees.

Armies from lands, including Russia and Asia, will gather in Armageddon

A great judge comes after Rome is destroyed.

According to certain understandings of the Malachy prophecy, Pope Francis I is the last pope and if other Catholic prophecies are correct, those events will happen under his pontificate.

Thus, if all of those are true, Pope Francis I will be an antipope, he will compromise the religion of the Church of Rome, the vast majority of Catholics will accept this modified faith, the tribulation will begin while he is pontiff, Rome will be destroyed towards the end of his pontificate, and a great judge will come.

On the other hand, if the Malachy list is not complete, then we will need to wait for another pontiff/religious leader to fulfill some or all of the above.

Do these Catholic private prophecies have any relationship to biblical prophecy?

According to Bible prophecy:

A false religious leader will arise.

This false leader will encourage an ecumenical faith.

The vast majority of humankind will accept this improper faith.

A false religious leader will perform signs and lying wonders.

Nearly all humankind will be deceived by signs and lying wonders.

The final Antichrist will promote the final “Beast/King of the North” that the Bible warns against.

The “Beast/King of the North,” that the Antichrist supports will destroy the Anglo-descended nations.

The “Beast/King of the North,” will destroy an Arabic confederation.

The Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord last 3 ½ years.

A few years after the start of the Great Tribulation, Rome will be destroyed.

Jesus will come after Rome is destroyed.

While the Bible does not clearly teach that Pope Francis I is that religious leader, the timing of the election of Pope Francis I is consistent with the time period for the end of the age and the rise of the final Antichrist. Although the final reign of Antichrist with the Beast will not start for at least a few years, the Antichrist leader could be in place now.

We are living in the last days, and the last pope will take steps that will lead to the destruction of the world as we know it.

But the good news is that Jesus will return and establish the Kingdom of God—and ultimately there will be a time with no more pain, sorrow, or suffering (Revelation 21:1-4). Until then, the Bible teaches that we can expect to face many tribulations (cf. Acts 14:22), some of which will be brought about by the last pope, who may or may not be Francis I.

Anyway, I would add today that it is likely that some within Vatican security are familiar with Catholic prophecies that tell of threats and destruction coming to Rome. While some incidents can be prevented, the biblical reality is that ultimately the Church of Rome will be gone according to biblical prophecies (Revelation 17:9; 15-18; Revelation 19).

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

The Malachy Prophecies and “Peter the Roman” An Irish bishop allegedly predicted something about 112 popes in the 12th century. Pope Benedict XVI was number 111. Francis would be number 112–if he is that one–and if so, he is to reign until Rome is destroyed. May he be an antipope/final Antichrist?
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.
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 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
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? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
How Will Middle East Peace be Brought About? Can humans bring peace to the Middle East? Here is a link to a related video: Middle East Peace? When?
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?
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.
The Last Pope Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Why might Pope Francis be the last pope? What happens if he is? Biblical and other prophecies help explain what to expect.
The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Amazon Book What does the Bible say about a pope near this time? Is the final pope to be an antipope and antichrist? Does Catholic prophecy point to Pope Francis as being the dreaded “Peter the Roman”? This 186 page book provides information and answers.
The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle This electronic version of the printed book which is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle.