On August 23, 2025, in his remarks to the International Catholic Legislators Network, Pope Leo XIV welcomed Catholic lawmakers and described their vocation as a sacred mission. He praised their theme, “The New World Order: Major Power Politics, Corporate Dominions, and the Future of Human Flourishing,” and expressed concern about the state of the world. He pointed to Saint Augustine as a model, urging lawmakers to shape society with the church’s values amid global uncertainty, just as Augustine sought to do in the collapsing Roman Empire.
The Pope emphasized the importance of solidarity among the nations and advocated for the full development of individuals, including their spiritual and moral growth. He called Catholic lawmakers to act as “bridge-builders,” applying their faith in crafting laws and policies that embody these values. Finally, he invoked Christ’s blessing on their efforts to guide the world.
The Holy See Press Office published the following regarding the Pope’s statement:
• “I am pleased to greet you, members of the International Catholic Legislators Network. And I thank you for your visit, here to the Vatican and to Rome.” [1]
• “You have gathered for your sixteenth annual meeting which has a thought-provoking theme this year: The New World Order: Major Power Politics, Corporate Dominions and the Future of Human Flourishing.” [1]
• “We are all concerned about the direction our world is taking, and yet, we long for authentic human flourishing.” [1]
• “I suggest that we might look to the past, to that towering figure of Saint Augustine of Hippo. As a leading voice of the Church in the late Roman era, he witnessed immense upheavals and social disintegration.” [1]
• “Augustine encouraged Christians to infuse the earthly society with the values of God’s Kingdom, thereby directing history toward its ultimate fulfillment in God, while also allowing for authentic human flourishing in this life.” [1]
• “Authentic human flourishing stems from what the Church calls integral human development, or the full development of a person in all dimensions: physical, social, cultural, moral, and spiritual.” [1]
• “It also includes a harmony with creation and a sense of solidarity across social classes and nations.” [1]
• “In your vocation as Catholic lawmakers and public servants, you are called to be bridge-builders.” [1]
• “May the Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace, bless and guide your efforts for the true flourishing of the human family.” [1]
We are witnessing the growing influence of Roman Catholicism on legislation. Pope Leo’s appeal is a direct invitation for lawmakers to infuse public policy with Catholic principles. While framed in terms of human flourishing, solidarity, and peace, such language often conceals Rome’s long-standing agenda of uniting church and state under its moral authority.
This is a foreshadowing of the coming crisis described in Revelation 13, when political powers (the “beast” and the “image of the beast”) enforce religious mandates under the guise of promoting the good of society. When Catholic legislators begin embedding their doctrines into civil law, issues such as Sunday sacredness, the Eucharistic mass, ecological mandates, and other church traditions will ultimately result in enforced worship—where liberty of conscience is overruled by the power of the state.
In short, Pope Leo XIV’s address reflects a clear push toward the revival of the Papacy—a system where civil legislation enforces religious values. This speech is another sign that the world is moving rapidly toward the prophetic scenario of Revelation 13, where the union of church and state will demand obedience to man-made traditions above the word of God.
Sources
[1] https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2025/08/23/250823c.html
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Augustine is the symbol of the union of church and state and of the persecution and death of Sabbath keepers. How demoralizing the influence of the monastic hysteria was may be seen in the transformation wrought in Augustine (A. D. 354-430). This renowned writer of the church (probably of all Catholic Fathers, the most adored by the papacy) was forced by the popular pressure into the views of Jerome, and was in correspondence with him. His complete surrender to the policy of persecution is given at length by Limborch.32 Augustine, from his episcopal throne in north Africa, gave to the papacy a deadly weapon; he invented the monstrous doctrine of “Compel them to come in!” Thus he laid the foundation for the Inquisition. Intoxicated with Greek philosophy, he cried out that its spirit filled his soul with incredible fire.33 He had wandered nine long years in Manichaeism, which taught the union of church and state and exalted the observance of the first day of the week.34 Augustine found many reasons why the doctrines and practices of the church should be enforced by the sword.35 The doctrine “Compel them to come in,” sent millions to death for no greater crime than refusing to believe in the forms of ecclesiastical worship enforced by the state. Such was the atmosphere of the age in which Vigilantius ministered.
In his day another controversy existed which was to rock the Christian world. Milan, center of northern Italy, as well as all the Eastern churches, was sanctifying the seventh-day Sabbath, while Rome was requiring its followers to fast on that day in an effort to discredit it. Interesting pictures of the conflict are given by an eminent scholar and writer, Dr. Peter Heylyn.36 Ambrose, the celebrated bishop of Milan, and Augustine, the more celebrated bishop of Africa, both contemporaries of Vigilantius, described the interesting situation. Ambrose said that when he was in Milan he observed Saturday, but when in Rome he fasted on Saturday and observed Sunday. This gave rise to the proverb, “When you are in Rome, do as Rome does.” Augustine deplored the fact that in tow neighboring churches in Africa, one observed the seventh-day Sabbath, another fasted on it.37 The Sunday law is coming. Let us praise the Lord who chooses us as his witnesses.
32 Limborch, The History of the Inquisition, Vol. 1, ch. 6,pp. 30-33.
33 Schaff, History of the Christian Church, 3d Period, Vol. 2, par. 173, pp. 724, 725.
34 Milman, The History of Christianity, vol.2, pp.270-275.
35 Ruffini, Religious Liberty, pages 26,27.
36 Heylyn who, in 1612, wrote The History of the Sabbath to expose the Puritans’ false claims for Sunday.
37 Heylyn, The History of the Sabbath, in Historical and Miscellaneous Tracts, page 416.
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