Pope Francis Reminded Anglican Leaders of Rome’s Supremacy Over All of Christianity During His Call for Greater Cooperation

“Rome is aiming to re-establish her power, to recover her lost supremacy. Let the principle once be established in the United States that the church may employ or control the power of the state; that religious observances may be enforced by secular laws; in short, that the authority of church and state is to dominate the conscience, and the triumph of Rome in this country is assured” (Great Controversy, p. 581).

For the first time in history, the senior leaders of the Anglican Communion held their Primates’ Meeting in Rome. This is the most important assembly in the Anglican Church and is attended by the archbishops and presiding bishops from throughout the world to discuss and vote on important business. The top leaders also made time to visit Pope Francis in the Vatican, where the Pope called for greater cooperation between the two religions.

Pope Francis also declared His primacy over all of Christianity during His meetings with the Anglicans, reminding them that as “Bishop of Rome,” the Pope is fulfilling His “Petrine Ministry.” This is the Catholic doctrine in which the Pope claims to be the true successor of Peter and is considered to have supreme and universal jurisdiction over all of Christianity.

On May 2, 2024, the Vatican Press Office published the following words spoken by Pope Francis during his meeting with top Anglican clergy:

• “The Lord calls each of us to be a builder of unity and, even if we are not yet one, our imperfect communion must not prevent us from walking together. In fact, relations between Christians … presuppose and from now on call for every possible form of practical cooperation at all levels: pastoral, cultural and social, as well as that of witnessing to the Gospel message. Our differences do not diminish the importance of the things that unite us: they cannot prevent us from recognizing one another as brothers and sisters in Christ by reason of our common baptism. In this regard, I express my gratitude for the work of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission over the past fifty years, which has made great efforts to overcome various obstacles that stand in the way of unity.” [1]

• “Dear Primates of the Anglican Communion, thank you for choosing to meet this year in the City of the Apostles Peter and Paul. It is a gift for me to feel close to the communities that you represent. I realize that the role of the Bishop of Rome is still a controversial and divisive issue among Christians. Yet, in the splendid phrase of Pope Gregory the Great, who sent Saint Augustine as a missionary to England, the Bishop of Rome is servus servorum Dei, the servant of the servants of God. Again, in the words of John Paul II, “this designation is the best possible safeguard against the risk of separating power, and in particular the primacy, from ministry. Such a separation would contradict the very meaning of power according to the Gospel: ‘I am among you as one who serves’ (Luke 22:27)”. [5] For this reason, it is necessary to engage in a patient and fraternal dialogue on this subject, a dialogue in which, leaving useless controversies behind, strives to understand how the Petrine ministry can develops as a service of love for all.” [1]

So much for all the false, sweet, smooth speeches given at the ecumenical gatherings. On the one hand, Rome tells us not to focus on doctrine but rather on the common ground we share, but on the other hand, Rome is attempting to resurrect the doctrine of Papal supremacy. Pope Francis has just slapped the Christian world in the face by declaring the office of the Papacy supreme over all other churches.

The Pope just affirmed the medieval doctrine of his primacy based on the Petrine ministry. This is based on the Catholic belief that Jesus Christ conferred a special role of leadership and jurisdiction upon the Apostle Peter, whom Catholics consider the first Bishop of Rome and the first Pope. Catholicism holds that this authority was passed down to Peter’s successors, the bishops of Rome, who are the Popes.

Papal supremacy is the belief that the Pope possesses not only religious authority but also the authority to govern and rule over secular or temporal affairs. This is what Pope Francis just declared on May 2, 2024. Rome wants to regain control over the world and use its position of power to shape society into an image of its own likeness.

“And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.” Revelation 13:2.

“These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” Revelation 17:13.

“The professed Protestant world will form a confederacy with the man of sin, and the church and the world will be in corrupt harmony. Here the great crisis is coming upon the world. The Scriptures teach that popery is to regain its lost supremacy” (Selected Messages, Vol. 2, pp. 367, 368).

Every true student of Bible prophecy and every defender of religious liberty should know what papal supremacy means. This is a system of power that requires the praise and submission of kings, emperors, religious leaders, and all people on the earth. This will lead to the temporary reign of the Antichrist, where dissent, freedom of expression, autonomy, and religious freedom will end under the new dictatorship.

Pope Francis was seen here asserting his authority and calling on churches and governments to align themselves with his beliefs. The growing prominence of the papacy in political and religious affairs is astonishing. Both political and religious leaders are paying respect and obedience to the Pope of Rome. This is the false worship that prophecy predicted would exist in the last days.

“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” Revelation 13:2-4.

Sources

[1] https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/may/documents/20240502-primati-comunione-anglicana.html