Can the pope be the anti-Christ on the end of times?

[fabio_rocha]

I know that “the gates of hell will not prevail against” the church but doesn’t mean that the pope can’t be the anti-Christ because he’s not the church and really anyone can be, right? We don’t know who’s going to be…

 

[R_C]

I know that “the gates of hell will not prevail against” the church but doesn’t mean that the pope can’t be the anti-Christ because he’s not the church and really anyone can be, right? We don’t know who’s going to be…

Antichrist must by definition teach what is contrary to the faith. A heretic cannot become Pope - first, because a heretic cannot be elected Pope, second because it is not men who elect the Pope, but the Holy Spirit. In fact, I think that not only he could not be a priest or bishop, but even as a lay person he’d be under excommunication for heresy - that’s if he were born Catholic, which would imply that he was baptized, which probably won’t happen.

Antichrist will be someone who is the opposite of Christ in his actions, and has power do do great signs. This means he will probably despise religion and the concept of a visible body of faithful. I see him more as a powerful agent of chaos, anarchy, and disorder, with a message focused on deep atheism and relativism, yet so convincing and enticing (given also the fact that his moral law will be the opposite of God’s, meaning full satisfaction of the senses even and especially to the injury of others) that many if not most of the people will follow him. But those are only my thoughts.

 

[Megan7]

Antichrist must by definition teach what is contrary to the faith. A heretic cannot become Pope - first, because a heretic cannot be elected Pope, second because it is not men who elect the Pope, but the Holy Spirit. In fact, I think that not only he could not be a priest or bishop, but even as a lay person he’d be under excommunication for heresy - that’s if he were born Catholic, which would imply that he was baptized, which probably won’t happen.

Antichrist will be someone who is the opposite of Christ in his actions, and has power do do great signs. This means he will probably despise religion and the concept of a visible body of faithful. I see him more as a powerful agent of chaos, anarchy, and disorder, with a message focused on deep atheism and relativism, yet so convincing and enticing (given also the fact that his moral law will be the opposite of God’s, meaning full satisfaction of the senses even and especially to the injury of others) that many if not most of the people will follow him. But those are only my thoughts.

Thank you.

 

[brierpatch1974]

I think people worry to much about the end of times. We should live everyday like its our last whether its the end of times or a thousand years away. End of times is irrelevant on how we should live.

 

[R_C]

I think people worry to much about the end of times. We should live everyday like its our last whether its the end of times or a thousand years away. End of times is irrelevant on how we should live.

Or, rather, we should remember that time ends for each of us at some point, and that we do not know if this will be in a hundred years or in an hour. We should always be ready to find ourselves before He who is Justice itself.

 

[Mijo12]

May I reccomend a book called “Defiance: the Antichrists of History and their Doomed War against the Church” by Fr Joseph Esper. It discusses the many enemies againts the Church and it does discuss the end of times in accord with Catholic teaching.

Very unlikely for a pope to be an antiChrist. If you are refering to the supposed prediction made by St Malachy it is inaccurate. The “prophecy” was written 200 years after his death and the writing is very vague to know what it was talking about at all.

 

[MaeganFlinchum1]

For the sake of not starting another thread on this: does this also imply that the pope cannot be the false prophet either?

 

[Boy_Wonder]

I know that “the gates of hell will not prevail against” the church but doesn’t mean that the pope can’t be the anti-Christ because he’s not the church and really anyone can be, right? We don’t know who’s going to be…

Absolutely not! Don’t even think, let alone say, such a thing!

Have faith. Love God. Pray. Serve others. Leave the rest to God’s goodness.

 

[R_C]

For the sake of not starting another thread on this: does this also imply that the pope cannot be the false prophet either?

:yup:

My understanding is that the Holy Spirit - who chooses the Pope - would not allow a heretic, or the false prophet, or Antichrist to ascend to the throne of the Vicar of Christ.

 

[MaeganFlinchum1]

:yup:

My understanding is that the Holy Spirit - who chooses the Pope - would not allow a heretic, or the false prophet, or Antichrist to ascend to the throne of the Vicar of Christ.

Thank you!!

 

[capablanca911]

We’ve already had a few heretic popes. Honorius and Vigilius come to mind. The HS protects the Church from a formal defection of the faith i.e. the Roman See cannot make an ex cathedra statement that is doctrinally false. That doesn’t mean that a heretic is protected from becoming pope.

Could an anti-pope be the antichrist?

That’s my interpretation of the story behind the long version of the prayer to St. Michael, but nobody really knows.

 

[loozcannon]

You may want to check youtu.be/Ucdpyar_Y80 as I think this may be relevant.

God bless.

 

[MaeganFlinchum1]

:yup:

My understanding is that the Holy Spirit - who chooses the Pope - would not allow a heretic, or the false prophet, or Antichrist to ascend to the throne of the Vicar of Christ.

Thank you!!

 

[R_C]

We’ve already had a few heretic popes. Honorius and Vigilius come to mind. The HS protects the Church from a formal defection of the faith i.e. the Roman See cannot make an ex cathedra statement that is doctrinally false. That doesn’t mean that a heretic is protected from becoming pope.

If bishop X, after being elected Pope, becomes a heretic, he immediately ceases to be Pope.

 

[fabio_rocha]

:yup:

My understanding is that the Holy Spirit - who chooses the Pope - would not allow a heretic, or the false prophet, or Antichrist to ascend to the throne of the Vicar of Christ.

What about the bishops and priests? Aren’t those also chosen from the Holy Spirit? And yet we see some of them against church teaching…

 

[Limerickman]

I think people worry to much about the end of times. We should live everyday like its our last whether its the end of times or a thousand years away. End of times is irrelevant on how we should live.

Well said.

We only have today and we must strive to do the right thing today.

 

[CaptBell800]

Well said.

We only have today and we must strive to do the right thing today.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:34

 

[R_C]

What about the bishops and priests? Aren’t those also chosen from the Holy Spirit? And yet we see some of them against church teaching…

It’s different.

All shepherds are chosen by the Holy Spirit (this is scriptural). However, being chosen does not mean becoming a mindless servant…Judas was as much a chosen apostle as Peter, and yet they made radically different decisions. Also, not all receive the same graces. A special characteristic of the Bishop of Rome as shown by Scripture and Tradition is that, as successor of Peter, he is Vicar of Christ on Earth, therefore the bishop chosen by the Holy Spirit for this role - this is at least the most accepted understanding - will be free from error when teaching in matters of faith and morals. In short: Christ gives a special grace to the head of the Church, “so that his faith may not fail”.

This is all very speculative as far as I know

 

[bzkoss236]

Antichrist must by definition teach what is contrary to the faith. A heretic cannot become Pope - first, because a heretic cannot be elected Pope, second because it is not men who elect the Pope, but the Holy Spirit. In fact, I think that not only he could not be a priest or bishop, but even as a lay person he’d be under excommunication for heresy - that’s if he were born Catholic, which would imply that he was baptized, which probably won’t happen.

Antichrist will be someone who is the opposite of Christ in his actions, and has power do do great signs. This means he will probably despise religion and the concept of a visible body of faithful. I see him more as a powerful agent of chaos, anarchy, and disorder, with a message focused on deep atheism and relativism, yet so convincing and enticing (given also the fact that his moral law will be the opposite of God’s, meaning full satisfaction of the senses even and especially to the injury of others) that many if not most of the people will follow him. But those are only my thoughts.

I’ve heard plenty of times that it is incorrect to say that the Holy Spirit elects the Pope. It is the Cardinals who elect the Pope under guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit isn’t pulling the strings, because that would conflict with free will, but after careful prayer, the Cardinals can receive insight from the Holy Spirit to make the decision of who will become the next Pope.

 

[R_C]

I’ve heard plenty of times that it is incorrect to say that the Holy Spirit elects the Pope. It is the Cardinals who elect the Pope under guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit isn’t pulling the strings, because that would conflict with free will, but after careful prayer, the Cardinals can receive insight from the Holy Spirit to make the decision of who will become the next Pope.

I must admit you are right. My terminology misses a very important and very subtle difference.

I would however think that God would not allow either Antichrist or any such figure to ascend to the Chair of Peter It’s all very speculative, though - at least from my side.

Thanks again for pointing this out.