Vladimir Putin, Pope Francis, and Medjugorje

Medjugorje Icon at Podbrdo, place of apparition (Beemwej)

Vladimir Putin met with Italy’s Prime Minister and then Pope Francis:

June 10, 2015

The pope, a frequent critic of military action, has taken a cautious approach to criticism of Russia since its annexation of Crimea…

Putin arrived in a stretch limousine at the Vatican more than an hour late for his meeting, after flying from Milan, where he had met Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi earlier in the day.

Pope Francis has also sought to strengthen ties with the Russian Orthodox church as part of a broader aim to promote Christian unity. Hackett added that Putin had in the past discussed his concern for Christians who were being persecuted in the Middle East, particularly in Syria. …

Putin has been treated to a far warmer welcome in Italy than he would get in any of the other large EU countries. …

A report in Crux, the online news site, noted that Francis and Putin were something of an “odd geopolitical couple” who had formed an “improbably strong partnership”. It began after the pope sent a letter to Putin in 2013 – before the G20 meeting in Moscow – urging leaders to find a non-military solution to the conflict in Syria. In his talk with other world leaders, Putin reportedly quoted from the pope’s letter, saying: “We might listen to the pope.” No military action was taken.

Putin has also spoken out about the “dire” situation facing Christians in the Middle East who are being persecuted and killed – a topic that is frequently also mentioned by the pope. The pontiff has chided world leaders for seeking to diminish anti-Christian violence and the topic was likely raised on Wednesday. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/10/pope-francis-urged-to-take-tougher-stance-against-vladimir-putin

June 10, 2015

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzo met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in Milan, where the two leaders were attending the Expo 2015 international fair. http://www.voanews.com/content/italian-pm-meets-with-russia-putin/2815859.html

June 10, 2015

VATICAN CITY — A serious-looking Pope Francis met Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a talk focused on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East that pose complex and contrasting diplomatic challenges for the two leaders.

Francis spent 50 minutes in a private meeting with Putin…

A serious atmosphere reportedly hung over the start of the Vatican visit, with the pope lacking his usual jovial persona.

Putin was greeted by Archbishop Georg Ganswein, head of the papal household, and a line of dignitaries before being ushered inside to see Francis.

During the meeting, the pope affirmed the need to work sincerely toward peace in Ukraine and emphasized the importance of rebuilding a climate of dialogue, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said afterward.

The pope also talked about the grave humanitarian situation in the country and the need to give access to relief workers, Lombardi said. …

Francis gave Putin the “Angel of Peace” medal, which the pope said has the ability to create solidarity between populations.

The two reportedly discussed Syria and Iraq, too.

Putin has positioned himself as a champion of beleaguered Christian minorities in war-ravaged countries such as Syria and Iraq, and protecting those communities is also a priority for Francis. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/06/10/putin-pope-meet-vatican/71007412/

June 10, 2015

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis met privately with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Vatican on Wednesday, using the talks to call for a sincere effort aimed at bringing peace to Ukraine.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said their talks concentrated on the Ukraine conflict and the Middle East, where the Holy See is worried about the fate of the Christian minority.

Putin earlier Wednesday met Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Milan and arrived an hour late to the meeting at the Vatican — his second with Francis since he became pope in 2013.

Lombardi said Francis stressed the need “to commit oneself in a sincere and great effort to bring” peace to Ukraine, through dialogue and implementation of the Minsk accords. http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/06/10/world/europe/ap-eu-italy-putin.html?_r=0

Pope Francis also gave Palestinian Authority President Abbas an ‘angel of peace’ recently (see Pope Francis calls Palestinian President an ‘angel of peace’). Whether Pope Francis actually called Vladimir Putin an ‘angel of peace’ was not reported. Because of Vladimir Putin’s favor towards Vatican City, his resistance to aspects of the homosexual agenda, and certain other steps he has taken, he has a special place in the heart of the Pope.

Since Pope Francis and Vladimir Putin have gotten along well in the past, I doubted that Pope Francis would be publicly stern about anything associated with the Russian President.

Pope Francis wants unity with the Eastern Orthodox badly. Leading Greek Orthodox bishops have blasted Pope Francis (see Many Greek Orthodox do NOT want to accept the Pope’s ecumenical agenda nor view of history), so presumably he believes that working towards an agreement with the Russian Orthodox (the most numerous of the branches of that religion) is more realistic. Pope Francis does not want to mess up his own ecumenical agenda. Vladimir Putin is Russian Orthodox.

Another thing that Vladimir Putin and Pope Francis have interest in is their version of ‘Mary.’ On his last visit in 2013, Vladimir Putin gave the pontiff an old Marian icon that both he and the pontiff kissed (see Russia’s Putin and Pope Francis both kiss Marian icon).

Pope Francis hopes that unity with some of the Eastern Orthodox as well as his Marian views will help lead to the type of ecumenical unity he and some others have long wanted. Vladimir Putin is not opposed to cooperation with the Vatican, so politically this can work for both, though Pope Francis also does not want to upset Catholics nor the Ukrainian Orthodox.

But Russia is a bigger piece of the pie, so to speak.

It may partially because of potential ‘pieces of the pie’ that Pope Francis made what seems to be a disparaging comment about the false Marian apparition at Medjugorje today. A reader sent me a link to the following:

June 9, 2015

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis gave a hint Tuesday about his take on the reportedapparitions of the Virgin Mary at the Medjugorje shrine in southern Bosnia, dismissing a reliance on regular visions of the Madonna as mere “novelty-seeking” for the faithful.

Francis spoke during his morning homily, three days after making a day trip to Sarajevo. En route home, Francis told reporters the Vatican would soon decide whether to formally recognize the Medjugorje phenomenon as authentic.

In his homily, Francis dismissed those “who always need novelty in their Christian identity” and say: “But where are the visionaries who tell us today about ‘The letter that the Madonna will send tomorrow at 4 p.m.?'”

“This isn’t Christian identity,” he said. “God’s last word is called Jesus and nothing more.”

The Medjugorje apparition has been disputed since 1981, when six youths said they had regularly seen visions of the Virgin there. Unlike Fatima in Portugal or Lourdes in France, the Vatican has been cautious about calling the sightings authentic. Neither Rome nor the local diocese has approved Medjugorje as an official shrine site and the Vatican has told dioceses not to organize official pilgrimages there. http://news.yahoo.com/medjugorje-decision-nears-pope-dismisses-visionaries-161840266.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma

I fully agree with Pope Francis that these false Marian messages are not from God. No ‘Marian’ apparition message has come from God, including Fatima (of which I wrote a book about).

Medjugorge should be simple for Catholics to denounce because of the content of some of the messages given in them are blatant contradictions to some Church of Rome positions.

The Vatican has been expected to issue a position on Medjugorje (see ). It is possible that it considers this false ‘Marian’ apparition to be too far out there to promote.

The Vatican still has an ecumenical and interfaith agenda, and the Eastern Orthodox and Marian apparitions remain part of it.

For more information, please check out the following:

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?
Some Similarities and Differences Between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Continuing Church of God Both groups claim to be the original church, but both groups have differing ways to claim it. Both groups have some amazing similarities and some major differences. Do you know what they are?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics Unity between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.
Beware: Protestants Going Towards Ecumenical Destruction! What is going on in the Protestant world? Are Protestants turning back to their ‘mother church’ in Rome? Does the Bible warn about this? What are Catholic plans and prophecies related to this? Is Protestantism doomed? See also World Council of Churches Peace Plan.
Do You Know That Babylon is Forming? How is the final Babylon forming? Are Protestants such as Joel Osteen and Kenneth Copeland are endorsing something dangerous? Could Pope Francis be the ‘False Prophet’ that the Bible warns against? Is an antipope expected to endorse a one-world religion? Here is a link to a related written article In Vatican City: New Babylon more openly 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.
Russia and Ukraine: Origins and Prophesied Future Where do the Russians come from? What about those in the Ukraine? What is prophesied for Russia and its allies? What will they do to the Europeans that supported the Beast in the end? You can also watch the short video Ukraine in Prophecy?
Russia in the Bible and in Prophecy Is Russia mentioned in the Bible? It it is where is it? Is there any evidence of a people moving to the land that the Russians now occupy? What do Catholic and other prophecies say about Russia? What does the Bible teach? How are Protestants often in error on this? Is there more in biblical prophecy for Russia than war? Does God have a plan to save Russia and her allies? Does Russia have a history involving Sabbath keepers? Does scripture tie Russia in with Armageddon? Will Russia help defeat the end time Babylonian power? What did the Apostle John, and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, write about Russia? This is a sermon-length video.
The Eurasian Union, the Kings of the East, and Bible Prophecy Is there a Eurasian union that will be formed? Is one being formed right now? Are any leaders working on that in the 21st century? Does the Bible teach that there will be a Eurasian union? If some type of Eurasian union is formed, who might it benefit and who will it destroy? A related video would be Is The Eurasian Union Rising?
Ezekiel 38: For Russia & Iran in Our Day? Is Ezekiel 38 about to be fulfilled? A related video is available titled Ezekiel 38: For Russia, Ukraine, & Iran Now?
Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the Apparitions Do you know much about Mary? Are the apparitions real? What happened at Fatima? What might they mean for the rise of the ecumenical religion of Antichrist? Are Protestants moving towards Mary? How do the Eastern/Greek Orthodox view Mary? How might Mary view her adorers? Here is a link to a YouTube video Marian Apparitions May Fulfill Prophecy.
Satan’s Plan Does Satan have a plan? What is it? Has it already been successful? Will it be successful in the future? Here is a link to a related video: Satan’s Plan A Brief Introduction.
The ‘Lady’ of Guadalupe: Any Future Ramifications? It is claimed that a female apparition appeared near Mexico City on December 12, 1531. How has it affected the world? What might it suggest about the future? A video of related interest is titled: The ‘Lady of Guadalupe’ and Prophecy.
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?
Feast of the Immaculate Conception? Did early Christians teach Mary had an immaculate conception and led a sinless life?
Origin of the Marian Dogmas: Where Do Catholic Scholars Say The Four Dogmas of Mary Came From?
Assumption of Mary Did Mary die? Was she taken to heaven on August 15th? What is known? What does the Bible show?
Fatima Shock! What the Vatican Does Not Want You to Know About Fatima, Dogmas of Mary, and Future Apparitions. Whether or not you believe anything happened at Fatima, if you live long enough, you will be affected by its ramifications (cf. Isaiah 47; Revelation 17). Fatima Shock! provides concerned Christians with enough Catholic-documented facts to effectively counter every false Marian argument. In addition to the print version, there is a Kindle version of Fatima Shock! which you can acquire in seconds.
What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons? Did Catholic and Orthodox “saints” endorse or condemn idols and icons for Christians?
Which Is Faithful: The Roman Catholic Church or the Continuing 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.
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?
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from c. 31 A.D. to 2014. A related sermon link would be Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. Marque aquí para ver el pdf folleto: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios.