Zenit.com posted the following:
Pope Leo XIV Named Treccani’s Person of the Year: A Pontificate of Subtle Strength and Measured Influence
29 December 2025
In a year marked by geopolitical tensions, economic volatility, and social unrest, the Italian Encyclopedia Institute Treccani has recognized Pope Leo XIV as its 2025 Person of the Year. The decision underscores the impact of a pontificate that, while understated in public spectacle, embodies foundational Christian values such as sobriety, discernment, and attentive listening—qualities the Institute lauds as emblematic of “a Church for the poor.”
The Treccani Yearbook 2025 emphasizes the Pope’s deliberate choice to temper his visibility and rhetoric. “Parsimonious in presence and words,” Leo XIV has navigated the pressures of global attention by avoiding polarizing categorizations, both politically and theologically. This measured approach contrasts sharply with the high-octane rhetoric of contemporary world leaders, positioning the pontiff as a stabilizing presence in an era of fragmented narratives and competing ambitions. https://zenit.org/2025/12/29/pope-leo-xiv-named-treccanis-person-of-the-year-a-pontificate-of-subtle-strength-and-measured-influence/
First of all, I have not seen Pope Leo XIV take the steps emblematic of “a Church for the poor.”
Consider that shortly after his election in 2013, Pope Francis declared:
“Oh, how I would like a poor Church, and for the poor.” http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/16/us-pope-poor-idUSBRE92F05P20130316
While on the surface the Pope’s words are what a ‘lamb’ may say, could it be part of the speech of a dragon (Revelation 13:11)?
Pope Francis repeatedly made statements about the poor (e.g. Laudato Si: Pope’s Agenda or Kingdom of God? and Pope tells United Nations to push wealth redistribution–a sign of Revelation 13 & 17?), but did not do much that seemed tangible that way.
Francis repeatedly told others to give to the poor. But in his 12 years as pontiff, the Vatican still retained its vast wealth and did not loosen its own purse strings significantly beyond what previous pontiffs did. Nor has Leo XIV.
The Bible tells about an unfaithful harlot church that wallows in wealth (Revelation 17:1-9, 18:7). Having been to Vatican City numerous times, I have seen some of that wealth on display.
Could that change?
What might happen if Pope Leo XIV actually sells off some of the vast treasures (such as jewels and land) of the Vatican and/or gives significant amounts of money/land away to the poor?
Well, if he does that, it will likely greatly enhance the pedophile-damaged image of the Church of Rome for the media and many others around the world. This will enhance the appeal of the religion that Rome will promote. Even if it gives away only a quarter of its vast wealth.
The Bible warns that the whole world will profit financially from the final end time Babylon (Revelation 18:9, 15-19). And in addition to trade, giving away wealth and land–in conjunction with the final King of the North (Daniel 11:24, 39), that the final Antichrist will support–will be a factor in the temporal success of this condemned system.
Notice that financial pressures will be something that the Antichrist is associated with:
16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:16-17)
The “He” above is the two-horned beast (Revelation 13:11), also known as the False Prophet (Revelation 16:13), and Antichrist (1 John 4:1-3).
The Bible also says that the merchants of the world will have gotten wealthy from the system that the Antichrist will promote:
2 Babylon the great … has become a dwelling place of demons…a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3…and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury. (Revelation 18:2a,b,d, 3c)
So, there are several biblical prophecies that tie the power that the Antichrist supports with a type of deceitful prosperity. Did you notice the connection to a cage of birds above? Well, then notice then also the following:
27 As a cage is full of birds,
So their houses are full of deceit.
Therefore they have become great and grown rich.
28 They have grown fat, they are sleek;
Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked;
They do not plead the cause,
The cause of the fatherless;
Yet they prosper,
And the right of the needy they do not defend.
29 Shall I not punish them for these things?’ says the Lord.
‘Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?’30 “An astonishing and horrible thing
Has been committed in the land:
31 The prophets prophesy falsely,
And the priests rule by their own power;
And My people love to have it so.
But what will you do in the end? (Jeremiah 5:27-31)
So, the supporters of the Beast and Antichrist/False Prophet will prosper for a time, then God will punish them.
Furthermore, notice three Roman Catholic writings/prophecies about the final Antichrist:
Saint Mechtilda (died 1299): Antichrist will, through base and false strategem, and with presents of gold and gems, attain influence over the worldly princes. They will look up to him as their Lord and God (Culleton, The Reign of Antichrist, pp. 133-134).
Saint Ephrem (died 375): Antichrist will use worldly goods as bait. He will entice many Christians with money and goods to apostatize…The devil will help him find all the hidden treasures of the world, even those at the bottom of the ocean. With those treasures he will attain greater success for the reign of Satan than at any other time in past centuries (Connor, pp.73.74).
Saint Jerome (died 420): Antichrist…will gain support with many gifts and money. He will sell himself to the devil…(Connor E. Prophecy for Today. Imprimatur + A.J. Willinger, Bishop of Monterey-Fresno; Reprint: Tan Books and Publishers, Rockford (IL), 1984, p. 74).
The Bible, by the way, does mention that the King of the North will end up with a lot of gold, silver, and precious stones (Daniel 11:38,43) and that a seven-hilled/mountain-based power will have “gold and precious stones and pearls” (Revelation 17:4).
But is it possible that before the Beast rises up that the Antichrist will use material items for bait?
Might the Antichrist use some of the wealth of the Vatican to support certain European nations/leaders?
Yes.
With that in mind, consider something the late Pastor General of the old Worldwide Church of God, Herbert W. Armstrong, said in a sermon on July 7, 1984:
And I can see now, the event that is going to trigger the formation of the reunification in Europe; the resurrection of the medieval Holy Roman Empire that we’ve been looking forward to that is prophesied to come…
But I believe that some event is going to happen suddenly just like out a blue sky that is going to shock the whole world and is going to cause the nations in Europe to realize they must unite! … Well now I think I can see what may be the very event that is going to trigger…that is the economic situation in the world…
The whole banking structure in the United States is a network all jointed together. But not only that, one nation has to deal with other nations and imports and exports. And so they have to have a means of transforming money from one nation to another. And so the banking structure is international and interwoven…
Now when the financial structure breaks down, all civilization is going to break down…
So, an economic or banking crisis is what Herbert W. Armstrong concluded would drive Europe to unite.
And, I agree that it will take some type of crisis for Europe to reorganize–and probably more than one.
Could something like an economic or banking crisis in Europe motivate the Vatican to sell off, or at least pledge, much of its vast wealth to prevent a collapse in Europe?
Could that help unify Europe to reorganize and rise up as prophesied in the Bible in Revelation 13:2-18 and 17:12-13?
We will see.
Pope Leo XIV may well be involved in that.
Now, getting back to Pope Leo XIV himself in 2025, one thing he truly has done has been to work on ecumenical unity since he became pontiff this year.
Steps towards ecumenical and interfaith unity, which this time Pope Leo is calling synergy, are being taken.
In my free eBook book titled The Last Pope of the Malachy Prophecies: Do Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Leo XIV?I have the following:
Leo XIV will be ecumenical. …
From May 20, 325 A.D./C.E. to August 325, the Roman Emperor Constantine convened the Council of Nicea. One of his political objectives was to get ecumenical unity in certain matters. In 2025, there are meetings to mark the 1700th anniversary of this, which are expected to include ecumenical discussions.
Pope Francis had expected to participate. So we would expect that his replacement, Pope Leo XIV, to get involved somehow in this. Actually, before the conclave to elect Pope Leo XIV was called, Patriarch Barthlomew of Constantinople extended an invitation for the next pope to attend the 1700th anniversary of Nicea. Like Emperor Constantine, Pope Leo XIV would like to ecumenical reconciliation for religious and political reasons.
Within a week of becoming pontiff, Pope Leo met with eastern Roman Catholic churches (see Pope Leo XIV met with ‘Churches of the East’–what did 1st century Christians believe?). He urged them to hold fast to their traditions–yet sadly, they changed from the original faith (watch: Original Church of the East). He also has taken steps with the Eastern Orthodox, Protestants, and others. Here is something related to the Eastern Orthodox:
September 23, 2025
A group of theologians working on dialogue between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches reported progress in understanding of one of the main thorny issues between the two bodies: papal infallibility.
The Coordinating Committee of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches met September 8–12 in Rethymno, reporting “progress” on a draft text about papal infallibility and setting up a new team to finalize revisions for review next year (2026).
Co-chaired by Cardinal Kurt Koch and Metropolitan Job of Pisidia, the session was hosted by Metropolitan Prodromos of Rethymno and Avlopotamos, continuing a pattern of hospitality that has helped the committee’s work since 2022.
Members examined two draft texts — one on the filioque and another on infallibility— deciding to tackle the latter first.
According to a communiqué, the redrafting group will submit changes to the full committee next year with a view to preparing a text for a future plenary session.
Beyond the meeting room, delegates prayed and met with local faithful, visiting the parish of Gerani and the monasteries of St. Irene and St. John the Forerunner — gestures of fraternity that often accompany steady, if quiet, theological work.
Participants also marked major transitions in the Catholic Church since their last gathering: the death of Pope Francis on April 21 and the election of Pope Leo XIV on May 8. The communiqué expressed prayerful gratitude for Francis and confidence in Leo XIV’s support for dialogue.
Looking ahead, the committee welcomed hopes for a meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew during the 1,700th anniversary year of the Council of Nicaea. Such an encounter, they said, would witness to Christian unity in a fractured world. https://aleteia.org/2025/09/23/orthodox-catholic-talks-move-forward-on-popes-authority/
The Vatican, though not officially part of the World Council of Churches, now has one of its priests as the new academic dean of the World Council of Churches’ Ecumenical Institute at Bossey (see World Council of Churches continues to push its ecumenical agenda, while working with the Roman Catholic Church).
The move towards unity among the trinitarians is happening.
Yet, that will NOT bring true unity of faith.
Pope Leo XIV is in my prayers.
I would like him and all others who profess to be Christians to heed the words of the Apostle Jude as are quoted in our free eBook Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession?:
The Original Faith
When Pope Leo XIV was Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, he stated:
The mission of the Church has been the same for 2000 years, when Jesus Christ said: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19). (Interview with Cardinal Robert Prevost OSA: “Above all, a bishop must proclaim Jesus Christ.” Augustine Order news, September 30, 2023)
So, he admitted that the mission was not to change, and was to including teaching ALL THAT JESUS commanded.
The Rheims New Testament of 1582 (an English translation from the Latin) states:
3 … contend for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).
16 Take heed to thyself and to doctrine: be earnest in them (1 Timothy 4:16)
The Eastern Orthodox Bible states:
3 … fight hard for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 3)
16 Watch yourself and your teaching. Continue in these things! (1 Timothy 4:16)
The Lamsa Bible states:
3 … earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. (Jude 3)
16 Take heed to yourself and to your doctrine; and be firm in them: for in doing this, you shall both save yourself and those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4:16)
The original apostles practiced what has been called Judeo-Christianity.
Once the original apostles were gone (all of which seemingly died in the first century, with the possibility that John lived until the start of the second century), who was supposed to continue to contend for the original faith and be earnest in that doctrine?
Why, the true saints of course! The real Christians who practiced and held to the original faith (cf. Revelation 14:12).
Specifically, at first, the real saints of the 1st century, some of which lived into the 2nd century. And then others born later.
Theological scholars realize that “everyone in the first generation of Christianity was Jewish Christian” (Reed AY. Jewish-Christianity and the History of Judaism. J.C.B. Mohr Verlag, 2018, p. XXII)—they held to the original faith.
Consider also, that biblical warnings are given to NOT depart from the original faith. Not from a specific organization.
The Apostle John also confirmed that former point about those who failed to continue in what he taught (1 John 2:19) and that latter point when he wrote about a church group that started out as true that ended up not willing to accept him or other true believers (3 John 9-10). John pointed out that although they claimed to represent the original organization and they claimed that organization still existed, they did not continue with the original faith.
Further consider who will be with Jesus when He returns:
14 … they that are with him are called, and elect, and faithful. (Revelation 17:14c, DRB)
14 … those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful. (Revelation 17:14c, OSB)
It is those who truly hold to the original faith that are called, chosen, and faithful. …
Jesus taught:
4 “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4, OSB)
Jesus was specifically referring to the Hebrew scriptures, commonly referred to as the Old Testament, and He attended synagogue on Saturdays (e.g. Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16).
Consider also that the Apostle Paul taught ALL scriptures were profitable (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and he attended on Saturdays as well (Acts 13:13-14, 42-45, 16:13, 18:1-4).
All who wish to be faithful Christians need to contend earnestly for the original faith, and strive to by live it and the rest of the words of God which are recorded in the Bible.
Some items of related interest may include:
Beliefs of the Original Catholic Church: Could a remnant group have continuing apostolic succession? Did the original “catholic church” have doctrines held by the Continuing Church of God? Did Church of God leaders uses the term “catholic church” to ever describe the church they were part of? Here are links to related sermons: Original Catholic Church of God?, Original Catholic Doctrine: Creed, Liturgy, Baptism, Passover, What Type of Catholic was Polycarp of Smyrna?, Tradition, Holy Days, Salvation, Dress, & Celibacy, Early Heresies and Heretics, Doctrines: 3 Days, Abortion, Ecumenism, Meats, Tithes, Crosses, Destiny, and more, Saturday or Sunday?, The Godhead, Apostolic Laying on of Hands Succession, Church in the Wilderness Apostolic Succession List, Holy Mother Church and Heresies, and Lying Wonders and Original Beliefs. Here is a link to that book in the Spanish language: Creencias de la iglesia Católica original.
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? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui? Here is a link to a short animation: Which Church would Jesus Choose?
The Last Pope of the Malachy Prophecies: Do Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Leo XIV? This 154 page book has biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies related to the last pope, an antipope who will be the final Antichrist.
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