Vatican Influences Italy’s New Government

The Catholic Church’s influence runs deep in Italian politics, and the new government headed by the center-left Enrico Letta is no exception. As Letta formed a new coalition government on April 27, the Associated Press wrote this: “Letta comes from a moderate wing of the left-rooted Democratic Party that is close to the Vatican. Since Parliament always includes an array of lawmakers enjoying good ties to the politically influential Catholic Church in Italy, this was one more qualification on Letta’s bridge-building résumé.”

Benedict comes home to new house, new pope

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI comes home on Thursday to a new house and a new pope, as an unprecedented era begins of a retired pontiff living side-by-side with a reigning one inside the Vatican gardens.

Francis visits tomb of St. Peter, first pontiff to do so since excavation of necropolis

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Monday took an emotional, close-up look at the tomb of Peter, the church’s first pontiff, buried beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican said. By doing so, Francis became the first pontiff to visit the necropolis, where pagans and early Christians were buried, since extensive archaeological excavations were conducted at the ancient site decades ago, the Vatican said.

Is Pope Francis Forming An Alliance With Islam?

New Pope looking to unite all the world’s religions

Posted by Now the end begins -Pope Francis on Friday called for the Roman Catholic Church to “intensify” its dialogue with Islam, echoing hopes in the Muslim world for better ties with the Vatican during his reign.

“It is important to intensify dialogue among the various religions and I am thinking particularly of dialogue with Islam,” the new pontiff said in an address to foreign ambassadors at the Vatican.

Francis’s predecessor Benedict XVI was seen by some Muslim leaders as hostile to Islam and the change at the top had been welcomed by the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam’s highest seat of learning.

Pope Francis’ Honeymoon: How Long Will It Last?

By David Gibson Huffington Post  Since the moment of his election on March 13, Pope Francis has been warmly embraced by his own flock and even the media and the wider public in a way his bookish predecessor, Benedict XVI, was not.Polls show that anywhere from 73 percent to 88 percent of American Catholics say they are happy with the selection of Francis, as opposed to about 60 percent who were happy with the choice of Benedict — and many of those are extremely pleased with the new pope.

Exo-Vaticana: Pope Francis Poised For Extraterrestrial Disclosure

Exo-Vaticana documents the Vatican Observatory Research Group’s (VORG) endorsement of the astrobiological project and theological revisionism in expectation of extraterrestrial contact. In light of our extraordinary exposé concerning the Vatican’s plans for the arrival of an alien savior, the unexpected election of Pope Francis comes into a brilliant new focus. As a young adult, Bergoglio earned a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires and had scientific ambitions prior to entering the Jesuit order.[1] When the current leader of the VORG, José Gabriel Funes, S.J., also from Argentina, entered the Jesuit order, one of the three examiners was Bergoglio. Funes, who astounded the world with his essay The Alien is my Brother, is infamous for invoking St. Francis of Assisi as an apologetic for accepting ET, “To say it with St. Francis, if we can consider some earthly creatures as ‘brothers’ or ‘sisters’, why could we not speak of a ‘brother alien’? He would also belong to the creation.”[2] In other words, Funes and the VORG are leading the charge to accept extraterrestrials at face value even arguing they could be morally superior to humans.

Funes believes the first Jesuit Pope will soon turn his attention to issues like astrobiology once his papacy is established:

THE VATICAN’S SECRET PLAN for the arrival of an alien god

February 21, 2013 Red Ice Radio http://www.redicecreations.com/radio/…Tom Horn – Papal Resignation, Petrus Romanus & Exo Vaticana.  Thomas Horn is an internationally recognized lecturer, radio host and bestselling author of several books including his newest books, Petrus Romanus: The Final Pope Is Here. He returns to Red Ice to discuss the recent abdication of Pope Benedict the 16th and the prophecy of the final pope, “Peter the Roman,” whose reign would end in the destruction of Rome. The pope of lists from St. Malachy’s heralds the beginning of “great apostasy” followed by “great tribulation” sets the stage for the imminent unfolding of apocalyptic events. According to this prophecy, the next pope will be a false prophet who leads the world’s religious communities into embracing a political leader known as Antichrist. We’ll discuss the reformation of the Catholic Church and how, whoever seats the throne of the papacy, might take a more active part in the disclosure of the reality of extra-terrestrial life. In the member’s hour, we discuss UFO sightings, Rome, Astrotheology and who ET’s really are. Will it be as Arthur C. Clarke portrayed in Childhood’s End where ET’s will be part of the cleanup crew to save us and restore order after disastrous events have occurred? If so, how participatory is the Vatican is in this potential plan? Are they passive onlookers, or are their intricately involved in the planning and revealing of the post ET world?

Pope Francis visits Benedict XVI at Castel Gandolfo

Newly elected Pope Francis has met his predecessor for lunch, the first time such a meeting has been possible for more than 600 years. Pope Francis was flown by helicopter to Castel Gandolfo for the private lunch with Pope Emeritus Benedict. Benedict has lived at the lakeside castle south of Rome since last month, when he became the first pope in six centuries to resign, citing ill health. Cardinal Jorge Maria Bergoglio was elected to succeed him on 13 March.Full story BBC

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• Pope arrives for historic talks with predecessor Benedict XVI (newsinfo.inquirer.net)
• Pope Francis to meet Benedict for lunch (timesofmalta.com)
• “Brothers” Pope Francis, Benedict XVI meet (cnsblog.wordpress.com)

Pope Francis Advocated For Civil Unions For Gay Couples In 2010 As Argentina’s Cardinal Bergoglio

Pope Francis supported civil unions for gay couples as recently as 2010. This news might surprise lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) advocates aware of the new pope’s public stance on gay marriage — mainly, that it is a “destructive attack on God’s plan.” Francis also is fervently opposed to gay adoption, which he has said discriminates against children.

Pope Francis to wash feet of prisoners in pre-Easter Mass

Pope Francis has called for Roman Catholics to be closer to the poor and disadvantaged

Pope Francis will celebrate Mass on Thursday next week by washing the feet of prisoners in a youth detention centre in Rome, the Vatican has said. It says the pontiff is continuing a pre-Easter practice that began when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires. Normally feet-washing Masses before Easter are held in the Vatican or a Rome basilica. But Pope Benedict held a feet-washing Mass at the same Casal del Marmo youth detention centre in Rome in 2007.Story at BBC.UK

Related articles

• Pope Breaking Tradition, Will Visit Prison and Wash Feet of Inmates on Holy Thursday (millennialjournal.com)
• The Pope and the Prisoners (tellingfaith.wordpress.com)
• Pope to Celebrate Mass in Youth Prison on Holy Thursday (02varvara.wordpress.com)
• ‘HUGE HEART’: Argentinians Say New Pope Preaches With Compassion (foxnews.com)