Pope Francis The Fox
By Richard Bennett
In Pope Francis’ encyclical, “Laudato Si’, mi’ Signore” (“Praise be to you, my Lord”): On The Common Care Of Our Home,[1]the Pope identifies himself as “the Holy Father,” and as a Christian. Nevertheless, Francis teaches the following in this encyclical,
“In the words of this beautiful canticle, Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. ‘Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with colored flowers and herbs.’”
Is Francis endorsing the idea that the earth “governs us” rather than the Lord? Nowhere in the Bible is the earth called “Mother” or “sister.” This is demonic theology rooted in the “mystery religion” of Babylon. Anthropomorphizing the earth, especially as female, has always been a mark of pagan and Satanic worship. As Alexander Hislop points out,
“It has been known all along that Popery was baptized Paganism; but God is now making it manifest, that the Paganism which Rome has baptized is, in all its essential elements, the very Paganism which prevailed in the ancient literal Babylon…”[2]
Pope Francis is first and foremost a Jesuit. As a Jesuit, he is known to be cunning as a fox. In the third paragraph of the encyclical, he clearly specifies a crisis and targets his intended audience. “Now, faced as we are with global environmental deterioration, I wish to address every person living on this planet…about our common home.”[3] It remains to be seen, then, why Pope Francis has so early in his reign come forth with a statement of gross paganism as part of his supposedly Christian world view.
Biblical Truth
The truth is that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. As the Bible states, “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”[4] These foundational words aside, Francis has chosen instead to quote twelfth century Catholic St. Francis’s pagan understanding of the issue. Therefore, it cannot be by accident that Pope Francis has chosen to cover his papacy in the supposedly benign robes of Francis of Assisi.
Basic Untruth
A major fact to be considered is that Pope Francis believes in his absolute authority. As his own Roman Church teaching proclaims that the Supreme Pontiff, in virtue of his office possesses infallible teaching authority.[5] However, the reality is that Jesus Christ alone possesses all power and teaching authority, as Christ Himself proclaimed, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”[6] Thus does Jesuit Francis, having first covered himself in the pagan mantel of Francis of Assisi, attempt to usurp divine authority in a claim that is totally counterfeit. Another example of this Roman Catholic counterfeited authority by Pope Francis is seen in the following.
Francis professes to impart Christ by Masses and the Holy Spirit by Sacraments, including his current idea that “As Christians, we are also called ‘to accept the world as a sacrament of communion, as a way of sharing with God and our neighbors on a global scale.’”[7] Where is there any evidence of scriptural truth and the Gospel in this spiritually blind papal teaching? The Scripture commands each man to repent and believe the Gospel, but no man can do this without the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Yet these elementary facts are silently set aside as the Pope expands his argument by stating that the Papacy’s worldview is relevant for today. However, his teaching ends up in totalitarianism.
Francis starts with our supposed sin against “sister earth,” as the encyclical states, and moves in an entirely unbiblical direction,
“‘This sister’ (the earth) ‘now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life.”[8]
Francis’s stated view is utterly pantheistic. The Bible states,
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” [9]
The Bible states the facts. Contrarily, Francis teaches that the heaven and earth are parts of the Lord God. This is utter pagan philosophy.
Pope Francis’s Cunning Conjectures
What must be understood is that Francis’ encyclical, with its elevated and inspiring tone in pursuit of ethical excellence, is heavily laden with all the classical assumptions of the Papacy. Principally, what is being presented in the encyclical is an idealized plan for the world. It is based on the Vatican’s view of both what the world presently is, and what it could be, as if the Pope were the temporal “lord-director” of all things spiritual, political, and economic.
The whole argument of the encyclical hangs upon the veracity of its alleged self-evident axioms. However, the assumptions are false.
If Pope Francis wants to be a prophetic voice in the modern world, allegedly speaking on Christ’s behalf, then his assumptions must be evaluated according to the measure given in the Word of God, namely, “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.”[10]
The Lord Jesus Christ was emphatic that Scripture is absolute truth, that it cannot be refuted. As Scripture states, “Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying; ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.’”[11] Thus, from the outset, it becomes clear that Pope Francis is an impostor with an objective.
Francis conceals one important point in this encyclical. Since the Council of Trent in the mid-sixteenth century, the Roman Church has held that there is no salvation outside the Roman Catholic Church. Indeed, Rome formally denied the Gospel. Thus, Rome formally went apostate at the Council of Trent.
The Roman Catholic Church has never revoked the Council of Trent. Thus rather than the Gospel to make one right before Holy God, Rome has only sacraments to offer. These do not deliver salvation, for it is only “the gospel of Christ: it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth….”[12]
Therefore the Papacy must take in hand another tool, it must find another route by which to snare people into the folds of Modern Babylon. Dialogue on environmental issues is Rome’s latest scheme.
Near the end of the encyclical, there is much religious talk about God and the duty of Christians. But this is in fact only a postscript to the encyclical. The real thrust of the encyclical is promotion of a political agenda couched in pagan terms. It cannot be otherwise because in its conception, objective and method, it stands contrary to Scripture.
In face of this the Lord Jesus Christ’s message to those who are His own is totally different. He proclaims,
“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” [13]
Following on this message is the assurance that those who by grace alone believe on Christ alone through faith alone, i.e., the true spiritual family of people across the globe, are the real family of God. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” [14] As presented in the Gospel, those who by God’s grace alone through faith alone believe on the Lord Jesus Christ alone, have been declared “sons of God” through the Lord Jesus Christ’s perfect life and sacrifice. As the Apostle Paul proclaimed, “…you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”[15]
Pope Francis’s Agenda
Throughout the encyclical Francis’s environmental theme cannot be ignored. With over one hundred seventy references to global warming, climate change, environment and environmental issues, it is clear this is the means to his end. While we are rightly concerned with what Francis is saying, it is also imperative to grasp why he is saying it. Francis’s encyclical is not in any sense a labor of original thought. Both his analytical style and argumentative form are firmly grounded in the Vatican’s preeminent sense of its own self-importance and presumed lordship over every aspect of human life.
Francis exhaustively demonstrates that his views truly represent the historical essence of Rome’s religious and social teaching. However, that teaching is not the teaching of the Bible. Thus, Francis shows himself again to be a cunning fox. His objective is to firmly ground his institution’s own welfare and future in terms of an “integral human development” that acknowledges his primacy as the sole arbiter of ethics and moral order. It is quite clear that Francis is writing his encyclical to assert once again the Papacy’s autocratic claims. The aim of Francis in this encyclical is to propound and promote a type of world government.
Specifically, he envisions a renewed and rejuvenated “globalized society” over which the Roman Church rules as the principal ethical entity. And what better way to gain moral authority but by weaving together environmental activism based upon global warming and climate change synthesized by modern “science falsely so called.”[16] Truly it is a cunning plan to solidify a political base with the non-religious left, thereby creating a harmonious Church and Global State.
The ecumenical activity since the early days of Vatican II has been extremely successful in unifying the religious right under Papal dominance. If this continues, it is just a matter of time before all are ushered in to another chapter of the Dark Ages.
The term “globalize” is used forty-six times in this document. In the terms of the argument, it is meant to reinforce not merely the concept of an inevitable necessary global synthesis but to generate in his words a “just and sustainable economic order.” Part of Francis’s agenda is the development of an increasingly globalized society by the nations seeking for “the common good” of all. But because “there is none righteous, no not one…there is none that doeth good, no not one” [15] and “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,”[16] there is no such thing as “the common good” on a collective basis such as the Pope is promoting. Rather in the Bible, the ultimate end of man is to glorify God through the appreciation and adoration of His Son Jesus Christ to the complete satisfaction of our souls. In the Bible, it is on an individual basis that through the commitment to the whole counsel of God we glory and find our good. Therefore His revealed will in His Word is the only standard of good for rational creatures. “There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.”[17]
The emphasis on economics is such that Pope Francis mentions the concept eighty five times. This is the same Francis and his Vatican system which teach that private property is not personal as such, but belongs to all people.[18] A Vatican Council II document upholds the same principle of the “universal ownership of all goods” and emphatically teaches, “If one is in extreme necessity, he has the right to procure for himself what he needs out of the riches of others.”[19] Pope Francis’s philosophy is simply a justification for theft, whether on an individual level or a governmental level. The Bible states, “Thou shall not steal…. Thou shall not covet… any thing that is thy neighbor’s.”[20] Instead, people should be looking to the Father in heaven and His Word to learn biblical stewardship of their money and property. Catholics, and now nations across the world, are being exhorted to look to Pope Francis and his encyclical as a sure path for resuscitation of the international economy. Biblical principles of divine justice, property rights, and equivalent value exchange economics needed for stability and well being of nations, are negated by Francis’s economic policies.
Real Legal Power to Implement the Pope’s Agenda
Francis’s predecessor, Benedict XVI, called for “a reform of the United Nations Organization, and likewise of economic institutions and international finance, so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth.”[21] Social and religious dominance, upheld and maintained by means of civil law throughout the European nations, is what the Catholic Church enjoyed and thrived on throughout the Dark Ages and Middle Ages. It is to that same end which Francis now moves. Listing global warming, pollution, poverty, global inequality, over-consumption by first world nations and like issues, he states,
“These situations have caused sister earth, along with all the abandoned of our world, to cry out, pleading that we take another course. Never have we so hurt and mistreated our common home as we have in the last two hundred years. Yet we
are called to be instruments of God our Father, so that our planet might be what he desired when he created it and correspond with his plan for peace, beauty and fullness. The problem is that we still lack the culture needed to confront this crisis.”
After personifying the earth, Francis moves smoothly to state, “[To commit] crime against the natural world is a sin against ourselves and a sin against God.”[22] He then calls for “[t]he establishment of a legal framework[,] which can set clear boundaries and ensure the protection of ecosystems[,] has become indispensable….”[23] His solution of changing the culture by his enforced legal prescriptions rather than evangelizing the world with the true Gospel of grace is absolutely unbiblical, but it fits seamlessly into the ongoing papal agenda.
Moreover, the Roman Catholic Church has much influence in the formulation and implementation of national and international laws, particularly in the nations in which she has papal nuncios as ambassadors. At present, she maintains diplomatic relations with one hundred seventy-four countries at embassy level. Expediency, deceit, and cunning have always been defining elements of the Roman Church’s geopolitical pronouncements.
Pope Francis and his Vatican desire to maintain official diplomatic relationships. Their understanding is that political civil power is subordinate to the spiritual control of apostate Rome. Pope Francis, the present necessary and willing instrument, is seeking to fulfill these aspirations and objectives.
Conclusion
That Francis and his encyclical are intent on ruling religious, political and economic activities worldwide should not be surprising. Papal arrogance tallies well with Scripture’s prediction for such claims, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”[24] There can be but one Vicar of Christ who is infinite, supreme, omnipotent, and all sufficient; namely, the Holy Spirit. The Papacy is a demonically energized apostate system that will be judged and utterly condemned by the Lord. [25] Biblical insight apprehends that “the whole world lies in wickedness”[26] and, “the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand.”[27]
The Papal program is wicked and willful, and its genius in means and method, satanic.[28] From the beginning, the Lord God purposed to glorify Himself “in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without endAmen.” [29] He created the world and formed man for this purpose. His all-wise design was not defeated when Adam and mankind fell, for Jesus Christ the Lord was the Lamb “slain from the foundation of the world.”[30] Almighty God’s will is from eternity, and reigns supreme in time. He sovereignly orders, directs and controls all events. He it is “who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”[31] Satan and his present neo-Babylonian empire cannot resist Him. It is written, “The Lord reigns; let the people tremble.”[32]
Please join us in prayer that many people will understand this, and that they also would be drawn by God’s Spirit to seek His grace. Grace is unmerited, divine favor. By mercy alone, He saves hell-deserving sinners, demonstrating that all the glory of redeeming power is His alone. Since God works all things after the counsel of His own will, Papal Rome’s modern manipulation of civil power, false ecumenism, and unbiblical economic policies are merely instruments that God for His sovereign purposes has allowed.
We can be sincerely thankful that Almighty God in His supreme wisdom has set limits to the intrigues of Rome. Pope Francis and the Roman Church will be punished for their willful rejection of the Lordship of Christ. The Lord’s people will not be deceived by the powerful delusion that has descended on the world.[33] Rather they “should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” [34] True believers are those who adhere only to God and His written Word: these know that they are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, and that to God solely is due all glory and praise.
[1] http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclicalaudato- si.htmlPara. 1. 4/20/17See also Para. 87 where an hymn of Francis of Assisi is quoted mentioning
Sir Brother Sun, Brother Wind, Sister Moon, Sister Water, etc.
[2] Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons (Delmarva Publications, 2013 First Printing, Introduction)
[3] “Laudato Si,” Para. 3.
[4] Genesis 1:2
[5] http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104 Can. 749 §1. By virtue of his office, the Supreme Pontiff possesses infallibility in teaching when as the supreme pastor and teacher of all the Christian faithful,
who strengthens his brothers and sisters in the faith, he proclaims by definitive act that a doctrine of faith or morals is to be held.
[6] Matthew 28:18
[7] “Laudato Si,” Para. 9
[8] Idem.
[9] Hebrews 1:1-2
[11] Matthew 28:18
[12] Romans 1:16
[13] Matthew 28:18 – 20
[14] John 1:12-13
[15] Romans 8:15 – 16
[16] I Timothy 6:20
[15] Romans 3:10 – 12
[16] Romans 3:23
[17] I Samuel 2:2
[18] Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the [Roman Catholic] Church, Sect. 176 – 178 http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/justpeace/documents/rc_pc_justpeace_doc_20060526_compendio-dott-soc_en.html#The
universal destination of goods and private property05/20/2017.
[19] Vatican Council II No. 64,“Gaudium et Spes” Austin Flannery, General Ed. (Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Doocuments, Para. 69.) Text also here: http://www.osjspm.org/cst/gs_cos2.htm
[20] Exodus 20: 15, 17
[21] http://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20090629_caritas-in-veritate.htmlSect. 67. 4/28/17
[22] “Laudato Si,” Para. 8
[23] Laudato Si, Para. 53
[24] Isaiah 14:14
[25] Revelation 18:8 “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her.”
[26] I John 5:19
[27] Daniel 12:10
[28] II Corinthians 4:3 – 4
[29] Ephesians 3:21
[30] Revelation 13:8
[31] Ephesians 1:11
[32] Psalm 99:1
[33] II Thessalonians 2:8-12, cp. Mark 13:22: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. In context, “If it were possible,” means
that it is not possible because they have received a love of the truth, which the world has not received.
[34] Jude 3
