Pope Predicted a Short Reign to Cardinals - My Way
Did pope choose name to fulfill prophecy?
Catholic scholar: 'Benedict' a reference to protecting Rome from Germans
Apr. 21, 2005 - Mary Jo Anderson, a Catholic scholar and writer, says the Pope's choice of his name is not related to the prophecy of St. Malachy. Instead, she thinks...
- ... the new pope chose his moniker as a reference to sixth-century St. Benedict and his quest to protect Rome from invading German pagans, , claiming the pontiff hopes to protect the modern-day Church from destructive philosophies that originated in Germany.
Source:WorldNetDaily
New pope hailed for strong Jewish ties
Apr. 20, 2005 - Cardinal Ratzinger - now Pope Benedict XVI - will be good for relationships between the Catholic Church and Israel.
- Rabbi Israel Singer, chairman of the World Jewish Congress, called Ratzinger the architect of the policy that John Paul II fulfilled with regard to relations with the Jews.
"He is the architect of the ideological policy to recognize, to have full relations with Israel," Singer said.
Source:Jerusalem Post
Benedict XVI Vows To Reunify Christians - NewsMax
The Pope and Protestants - 1988 Review of Cardinal Ratzinger's book, Salt of the Earth: The Church at the End of the Millenium - Christianity Today
Feminist, Homosexual Groups Turn Thumbs Down on New Pope - Crosswalk
Fascinating Interest In Ancient Prophecy About Popes
Many commentators are relating the choice of Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope Benedict XVI to the prophecies of St. Malachy from the 12th Century. He made brief predictions of the last 112 Popes, leading up to the time of the final judgment. Such prophecies do not have the standing of Scripture, but there is a gift of prophecy, and when properly monitored (1 Corinthians chapters 12-14), it is helpful to the church. Prophecy Central does not usually report personal prophecies. This site is about Biblical prophecy. Even famous prophets like Nostradamus are not usually considered here. In this case, it is may be wise to give St. Malachi's predictions some consideration. According to his list, the new Pope is second to the last, and depicted as "the Glory of the Olive." Many observers feel that his choice of the name Benedict is significant in this regard. Here is a sampling of articles about these prophecies.
Pope choice fulfills
ancient prophecy? - WorldNetDaily
An Extraordinary Prophecy? - Hal Lindsey
Malachy's Prophecies - The Last 10 Popes - Bible Probe
Saint's Prophecy: Only Two Popes Remain - Carl Limbacher – News Max
Saint Malachy - Everything2.com
Cardinals Select Ratzinger as New Pope
Apr. 19, 2005 - One of the shortest conclaves in the history of papal elections has ended with the announcement that 78 year-old German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican's chief overseer of doctrine, was chosen as the next pope. His election was not a surprise. known as a strong conservative, he had been one of the closest friends and advisers to the late Pope John Paul II. He immediately assumed the name Benedict XVI
- ... it could be interpreted as a bid to soften his image as the Vatican's doctrinal hard-liner.Benedict XV — who reigned from 1914 to 1922 — was a moderate following Pius X, who had implemented a sharp crackdown against doctrinal "modernism."
The new pope's age may mean he is regarded among cardinals as a "transitional" [short-term] pontiff who will help the church absorb John Paul II's legacy.
Source:Fox
Joseph Ratzinger Biography - NewsMax
Cardinals Convene Papal Conclave
Apr. 18, 2005 - Representing 52 countries on 6 continents, 115 cardinals have convened to select the next pope. The process can take weeks, or it could happen very quickly. During the past 100 years the average is about three days.
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There are no clear favorites in sight to take over for Pope John Paul II, making the question of papal succession as unpredictable as any in recent history. The cardinals must decide whether to follow John Paul with another non-Italian or hand the papacy back to its traditional caretakers.
Source:Fox
Potential successors - MSNBC
Pope front-runner
Apr. 12, 2005 - Speculation abounds on the choice of the next Pope. One person stands out.
- Dionigi Cardinal Tettamanzi of Milan is the odds-on favorite of every bookmaker taking wagers on the next Pope. He would just hate that.
A moral theologian who looks like Pope John XXIII and thinks like Pope John Paul II...
Source:New York Daily News
See: Choosing the Next Pope
Muslim Outreach Bid Binds Papal Electors
Apr. 12, 2005 - Many of the Cardinals that the Pope John Paul II appointed in his last years are people who are able to build better relationships with the Islamic world. In 2001 he became the first pontiff to enter a mosque. After the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, he focused even more on developing
The late pope took historic steps to open channels between Islam and the Vatican, including a 2001 trip to Syria when he But the and the growing strength of radical Islam have raised calls in the Vatican for more comprehensive contacts with mainstream Islamic leaders.
Source:
Pius XII and John Paul II
Apr. 11, 2005 - Pat Buchanan laments the current state of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope John II was a great person, but the church suffered decline during his papacy.
- For, despite his extraordinary life, his holiness and his critical role in bringing an end to communist rule in Eastern Europe, the condition of the church is grave.
For example, the number of Catholic priests has fallen from 58,000 to 45,000. During that same period, the number of seminarians fell from 49,999 to 4,700, a decline of over 90 percent. And almost half the Catholic high schools open in 1965 have closed.
Buchanan traces the decline back to the church council known as Vatican II in th 1960's. Moral relativism has made great inroads since that time.
Source:WorldNetDaily
POPE JOHN PAUL II
Tributes and Commentary
Profile: Pope John Paul II - BBC
Christian Leaders Comment on Passing of Pope John Paul II - Charles Colson, President Bush, Lou Sheldon - Crosswalk
The Passing of a Pope –TRUTH vs EMOTION - Hal Lindsey
Should Evangelicals Honor Pope John Paul II? Interview with the President of Dallas Theological Seminary- Crosswalk
Pat Robertson Comments on Pope John Paul II's Passing - CBN
How the Pope Turned Me Into An Evangelical - Agnieszka Tennant, Christianity Today
Pope Was 'Evangelist' -Billy Graham - NewsMax
Remembrance: Be Not Afraid - By Deacon Keith A Fournier - CBN
Study: 35,000 News Stories on Pope's Death Worldwide - Editor & Publisher
Pope John Paul II Dies at 84
April 2, 2005 - Pope John Paul II died tonight at 9:37 p.m. - Vatican Time. Events have begun as outlined by the Pope himself for the occasion of his death.
- Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican No. 2 official, immediately led a tearful crowd of 70,000 people in St. Peter's Square in prayers for the dead pope as Rome observed a moment of silence.
Source:Fox
Cardinals head for Rome to cast votes
April 2, 2005 - Cardinals have not been officially summoned to the Vatican, but antipating the Pope's death, many have already started the trip to Rome. There are 117 cardinals who are eligible to elect a new Pope after his death is formally announced.
- The Sacred College of Cardinals meets 15 to 20 days later. After a Mass in St Peter's basilica, they enter the annexe of the Sistine Chapel. Beneath Michelangelo's 'Last Judgement' they are locked in ... and at night are confined to a hostelry within Vatican City.
Source:The Independent - UK
Pope has never revealed name of mystery cardinal - KESQ TV - Palm Springs
Gravely ill Pope remains 'serene'
Apr. 1, 2005 - Already suffering from Parkinson's Disease, Pope John Paul II has had a serious urinary tract infection with a high fever. He was given a feeding tube recently. And he has now suffered a cardio-circulatory collapse. On Thursday, he Pope received the Catholics' last rites for the sick and dying.
- That was a sign that the Pope's closest advisers fear that the end of one of the longest papal reigns is fast approaching, the BBC's David Willey in Rome says.
Source:BBC
Pope wants EU to call itself Christian
Jan. 23, 2003 - Pope John Paul II is trying to influence the framers of the European Union's Constitution, now being drafted by the Convention on the Future of Europe, to recognize their Christian roots. The trend in Europe has been to exclude any mention of religion in their constitutions. Most observers doubt that the E.U. Constitution will mention Christianity.
Source:UPI
Iran Will Participate In Assisi Prayer Meeting With Pope
Jan. 9, 2002 - A representative from the government of Iran will participate in the Assisi world prayer meeting for peace convoked by the Pope for Jan. 24.
- The Iranian ambassador said that his country is always willing to participate in any initiative to promote dialogue between religions.
Source:ETWN
Pope Calls World Religions to Peace Summit
Nov. 18, 2001 - Pope John Paul called for a meeting of leaders of all the world's religions on January 24 in the Italian city of Assisi. The meeting should be a historic moment for humanity, when all religions pray for peace and work to overcome armed conflict. The Pope said he hoped the meeting would help to improve relations between Christians and Muslims.
Source:Reuters (Story no longer on line.)
Heaven open to everyone, says Pope
Dec. 8, 2000 - The Roman Catholic Church was criticized for a document signed in September, in which it was stated that the way of salvation was "only in the unique and universal Catholic Apostolic Church." The Pope has now made an ammendment saying that Heaven is open to all as long as they are good.
- He said at an audience that "all of the just on Earth, including those who
ignore Christ and his Church" were "called upon to build the kingdom of
God".
Source: Electronic Telegraph - Bruce Johnston in Rome (Story no longer on line.)
Vatican Document Reasserts Catholicism Superiority
Sept. 8, 2000 - In a reaction to ecuminism, the Roman Catholic Church has issued a document that states people can only attain full salvation from earthly sin through the spiritual grace of the Catholic Church. It claims that oher faiths -- including Protestant Churches have defects that place their followers in a 'gravely deficient situation in seeking salvation.'
The document was released by
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and is said to have the explicit approval of Pope John Paul II.
Source: Maranatha Christian Journal
Rumours sweep Rome that Pope will quit next year
Jan. 13, 2000 - Despite Vatican concerns that the Church could not handle two Popes -- one reigning, and one retired -- John Paul II has come to realize that his body was "no longer a docile instrument, but a cage," and may decide to retire in 2001, after the Jubilee celebrations are completed.
Source: Electronic Telegraph (Story no longer linked.)
Leaders of all religions to meet in Rome; Vatican in final stages of preparations for inter-religious meeting
Sept. 24, 1999 - The Vatican is sponsoring an inter-religious meeting in preparation for the new Millennium.
- There will be two important moments during the meeting. The
first is the Assembly itself, which will be attended by 200
people: 80 Christians of different denominations and 120
from other religions; it will be held in the Vatican Synod Hall.
The second is a significant meeting in St. Peter's Square on
October 28, with thousands of faithful present. The
Assembly will include the traditional African, American
and Hindu religions, the monotheist religions, and some
new Japanese religions.
Source: WeekEnd News Today / EWTN News (Story no longer on line.)