For Mexican People, that includes me, the Pope has been good. I could sense the Pope feels it too.

No other country has treated the Pope better than Mexico and the Mexicans. No tomatoes or other things were thrown at him. He has visited us more. He cries when he leave our country. The Poles are proud of him. The Italians used to him. The USA didn't give the coverage he deserved.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonalez@srla.org), April 26, 2003

Answers

This is the assessment given to < a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=1503&ncid=1503& e=1&u=/afp/20030424/ts_afp/pope_history_record_030424195010"> Pope John Paul II by the media.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.or), April 26, 2003.

This is the assessment given to < a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=1503&ncid=1503& e=1&u=/afp/20030424/ts_afp/pope_history_record_030424195010"> Pope John Paul II by the media.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.or), April 26, 2003.

Sorry, I couldn't insert thread. Here is the story op Stories - AFP

John Paul II to move into fourth place on long-serving popes list Thu Apr 24, 3:50 PM ET

Add Top Stories - AFP to My Yahoo!

VATICAN CITY (AFP) - John Paul II will next Wednesday move into fourth position on the list of longest-serving Popes, after 24 years, six months and eight days.

He will move ahead of Pope Pius VI, who ruled 24 years, six months and seven days, from 1775 to 1799.

The longest reign, 34 or 37 years according to biblical historians, belongs to Saint Peter, the prince of apostles. Since then, only Pius IX ruled longer than 30 years, from June 1846 till February 1878.

Thirteen popes ruled for longer than 20 years.

John Paul II, who began work as Pope on October 22, 1978, will celebrate another anniversary on May 18 when he turns 83.

He holds another record, having beatified 1,310 former church officials in almost 25 years, and canonized 465 of the 759 saints proclaimed by other popes since the end of the 16th century.

Beatification is the penultimate step to becoming a saint.

John Paul II holds yet another record, as the most travelled pope in history, a pontifical frequent flyer with close to 100 voyages outside Italy.

The new series of visits will take him to Spain on May 3, Croatia on May 5, Bosnia in June and Slovakia in September.

Also planned is a visit next August to distant Mongolia, tucked between Russia and China.Pope-history-record

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), April 26, 2003.

Elpidio,

You stated "The USA didn't give the coverage he deserved". Can you help me understand this comment? Something tells me it is baseless, but alas, I may be mistaken...

-- Bob M (itsallgood777@hotmail.com), April 26, 2003.

I admire the Pope very much. Very dynamic, charismatic and tireless. I think he has done much to present Catholicism in a positive light throughout the world. When he came through Baltimore, I was surprised to find that a number of Protestants I know were also quite excited about the visit, and seemed to respect him very much. I'm the product of a very liberal Catholic education from Christian Brothers and Jesuits during the 60's and 70's. From my orientation I've always considered John Paul to be very conservative,... staunchly holding the course. Its surprising to me that more than a few here feel just the opposite, and seem to have some real problems with this Pope. In my circles, I was completely unaware of the controversy that seems to surround him. I know he has disappointed some at the very libral end of the spectrum, and now I find he disappoints at the more conservative end as well. I for one think he's been an excellent Pope.

-- Jim Furst (furst@flash.net), April 26, 2003.

Jmj
Elpidio, your source (AFP?) got something wrong: "... having beatified 1,310 former church officials in almost 25 years ..."
Very few of those people beatified were "church officials." Most were lay and religious martyrs.

Jim, you wrote: "I know he has disappointed some at the very libral end of the spectrum, and now I find he disappoints at the more conservative end as well."
Although I consider it improper to use the words "liberal" and "conservative" with respect to religion, I know what you are driving at. You are correct, and you should not be surprised or disappointed. The fact you describe is proof of the fact that he is "John Paul the Great." The fullness of the truth lies between "extremes." The dissenters and heretics exist on the ends of a spectrum. Or, in my preferred image ... the pope is at the center of a sphere (Christianity) with Jesus (and the orthodox Catholics among us); ... meanwhile, those who cling to error (including the dissenters and schismatics at this forum) are facing away from the center of the sphere and drifting outward toward the surface, sometimes even breaking out of the Christian sphere (e.g., poor Elpidio).

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 27, 2003.

Bob, Most channels did not show the Ppal visits here in the USA. In Mexico, there was full coverage. From airplane to every place he went.

John G, felices los pobres, porque de ellos es el Reino de Dios. Blessed are the poor, because ....

-- Elpidio gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), April 28, 2003.

A sedevacantist is Jenny.
Her vile misdemeanors are many.
....... She lies 'bout the pope.
....... I think she's on dope.
Her thoughts are not worth half a penny.


-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), April 28, 2003.

This kid appear right on the money
Methinks she's a cute little bunny
She's got most of it right
For her faith she will fight
And besides I'll bet she's very funny


-- Ed Richards (loztra@yahoo.com), April 28, 2003.

I had an untuition about this
That no tempt of the rhyme He'd resist
They thought him unable
But JFG's capable
Of getting the limerick gist

-- Emerald (emerald1@cox.net), April 29, 2003.

Let me try an imperfect Haiku

Jenny, where was the council held that elected Cardinal Siri as Gregory XVII?

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), April 29, 2003.

1958, the Vatican Rome Italy, also 1963 same place. Ask for the Italian and European newspaper archives. Also the Dallas, Texas newspapers. Check Malachi Martin, "Keys of this Blood", paage 696, the "little Brutality"

-- Ari (A@whychange.com), May 17, 2003.

THE SIRI THESIS

[Compiled by William G. von Peters, Ph.D.]

NOTE: The following work is based upon the research of Mr. Gary

Giuffre' and has been extracted and compiled primarily from his

copyrighted newsletters, verbal information as to sources, and other

sources I have found.

INTRODUCTION

Precisions on the Great Disaster (from Catholic Prophecy by Yves

Dupont)

Matt. 24:39: And they did not understand until the flood came and

swept them all away.

...The Church is persecuted; the Pope leaves Rome and dies in exile; an

anti-pope is installed in Rome; the Catholic Church is split, leaderless

and completely disorganized...

7. Pius IX _ "There will be a great prodigy which will fill the world

with awe. But this prodigy will be preceded by the triumph of a

revolution during which the Church will go through ordeals that are

beyond description."

18. From St. Malachy: De Mediatate Lunae (From the Midst of the

Moon", often translated, "From the Half of the Moon"). The biblical

symbolism of the "moon" is "the worldly kingdom" or the temporal

order." This Pope may therefore be elected from the midst of cardinals

who are mainly influenced by worldly ideas (social gospel, etc.), or he

may be elected at a time when the forces of Satan (the "Prince of this

World") have virtual control of the entire earth via their secret

government, possibly even influencing the papal election, so that an

agent of the world antichrist government is elected Pope."

De Labore Solis ("Of the Labor of the Sun"). This is the same symbol of

that of Apocalypse 12:1-5, of a woman clothed with the sun in labor to

give birth to a son, who subsequently rules the earth with "a rod of iron."

H.B. Kramer, interpreting the Apocalypse in his Book of Destiny,

maintains this figure represents a highly disputed papal election (dispute

= labor; woman = Church; sun = light of divine truth).

21. St. Pius X _ "I saw one of my successors taking to flight over the

bodies of his brethren. He will take refuge in disguise somewhere; and

after a short retirement he will die a cruel death.

22. Pius XII "We believe that the present hour is a dread phase of the

events foretold by Christ. It seems that darkness is about to fall on the

world. Humanity is in the grip of a supreme crisis.

27. Old German Prophecy. "...The doctrine will be perverted, and they

will try to overthrow the Catholic Church..."

33. Nicolas of Fluh "The Church will be punished because the majority

of her members, high and low, will become so perverted. The Church

will sink deeper and deeper until she will at last seem to be

extinguished, and the succession of Peter and the other Apostles to have

expired. But, after this, she will be victoriously exalted in the sight of all

doubters."

46.2. Ven. Bartholomew Holzhauser (17th Cent.) "The fifth period is

one of affliction, desolation, humiliation, and poverty for the Church.

Jesus Christ will purify His people through cruel wars, famines, plague

epidemics, and other horrible calamities. He will also afflict and weaken

the Latin Church with many heresies. It is a period of defection,

calamities and extermination...

46.3. "During this period the Wisdom of God guides the Church in

several ways: 1) by chastising the Church so that riches may not corrupt

her completely; 2) by interposing the Council of Trent like a light in the

darkness, so that the Christians who see the light may know what to

believe, 3) by setting St. Ignatius and his Society in opposition to Luther

and other heretics; 4) by carrying to remote lands the Faith which has

been banned in most of Europe.

46.6 "During this unhappy period, there will be laxity in divine and

human precepts. Discipline will suffer. The Holy Canons will be

completely disregarded, and the Clergy will not respect the laws of the

Church. Everyone will be carried away and led to believe and to do what

he fancies, according to the manner of the flesh.

46.7 "They will ridicule Christian simplicity; they will call it folly and

nonsense, but they will have the highest regard for advanced knowledge,

and for the skill by which the axioms of the law, the precepts of

morality, the Holy Canons and religious dogmas are clouded by

senseless questions and elaborate arguments. As a result, no principle at

all, however holy, authentic, ancient, and certain it may be, will remain

free of censure, criticism, false interpretation, modification, and

delimitation by man.

46.8 "These are evil times, a century full of dangers and calamities.

Heresy is everywhere, and the followers of heresy are in power almost

everywhere. Bishops, prelates, and priests say that they are doing their

duty, that they are vigilant, and that they live as befits their state in life.

In like manner, therefore, they all seek excuses. But God will permit a

great evil against His Church: Heretics and tyrants will come suddenly

and unexpectedly; they will break into the Church while bishops,

prelates and priests are asleep. They will enter Italy and lay Rome waste;

they will burn down the churches and destroy everything."

51.1 (Nursing Nun of Bellay, 1810-1830) "Once again the madmen

seem to gain the upper hand! They laugh God to scorn. Now, the

churches are closed; the pastors run away; the Holy Sacrifice ceases."

51.2 "Woe to thee, corrupt city! the wicked try to destroy everything;

their books and their doctrines are swamping the world. But the day of

justice is come...

52.2 (Jeanne le Royer, Sister of the Nativity) "I saw a great power rise

up against the Church. It plundered, devastated, and threw into

confusion and disorder the vine of the Lord, having it trampled

underfoot by the people and holding it up to ridicule by all nations.

Having vilified celibacy and oppressed the priesthood, it had the

effrontery to confiscate the Church's property, and to arrogate to itself

the powers of the Holy Father, whose person and whose laws it held in

contempt."

53.1 (Ven. Anna-Katrina Emmerick) "I saw also the relationship

between the two popes. . . I saw how baleful would be the consequences

of this false church. I saw it increase in size; heretics of every kind came

into the city )of Rome). The local clergy grew lukewarm, and I saw a

great darkness...

53.2 ""Once more I saw that the Church of Peter was undermined by a

plan evolved by the secret sect, while storms were damaging it.

Comment: Many prophecies predict an anti-pope and a schism.

53.3 "I saw a strange church being built against every rule. . . No

angels were supervising the building operations. In that church, nothing

came from high above. . . There was only division and chaos. It is

probably a church of human creation, following the latest fashion, as

well as the new heterodox church of Rome, which seems of the same

kind...

53.4 "I saw again the strange big church that was being built there (in

Rome). There was nothing holy in it. I saw this just as I saw a

movement led by Ecclesiastics to which contributed angels, saints and

other Christians. But there (in the strange big church) all the work was

being done mechanically (i.e., according to set rules and formulae).

Everything was being done, according to human reason...

53.5 I saw all sorts of people, things, doctrines, and opinions. There

was something proud, presumptuous, and violent about it, and they

seemed to be very successful. I did not see a single Angel nor a single

saint helping in the work. But far away in the background, I saw the seat

of a cruel people armed with spears, and I saw a laughing figure which

said: 'Do build it as solid as you can; we will put it to the ground.'"

Comment: Two different churches seem to be indicated in this passage.

First, a puppet church set up by the Communists, and a "strange church"

comprising "all sorts of people and doctrines" (perhaps in the name of

Ecumenism), which will follow modern trends. This church is "unholy

and humanistic," but it is not Communist inspired, otherwise the

Communists would not want to pull it to the ground. This church is

either the true Catholic Church after it has bee completely subverted

from within, or it is a new church claiming to be the true Catholic

Church, if two popes are elected at the same time. Some prophecies

seem to warrant the inference that the true Catholic Church will

disappear completely for a while as an organization, but, although

disorganized, it will survive in the persons of the faithful members of

the clergy and laity who will go underground.

53.21 "Among the strangest things that I saw, were long processions of

bishops. Their thoughts and utterances were made known to me through

images issuing from their mouths. Their faults towards religion were

shown by external deformities. A few had only a body, with a dark cloud

of fog instead of a head. Others had only a head, their bodies and hearts

were like thick vapors. Some were lame; others were paralytics; others

were asleep or staggering.

53.23 "Then, I saw that everything that pertained to Protestantism was

gradually gaining the upper hand, and the Catholic religion fell into

complete decadence. Most priests were lured by the glittering but false

knowledge of young school-teachers, and they all contributed to the

work of destruction.

53.24 "In thence days, Faith will fall very low, and it will be preserved

in some places only, in a few cottages and in a few families which God

has protected from disasters and wars."

53.25 "I see many excommunicated ecclesiastics who do not seem to be

concerned about it, nor even aware of it. Yet, they are (ipso factor)

excommunicated whenever they cooperated to [sic] enterprises, enter

into associations, and embrace opinions on which an anathema has been

cast. It can be seen thereby that God ratifies the decrees, orders, and

interdictions issued by the Head of the Church, and that He keeps them

in force even though men show no concern for them, reject them, or

laugh them to scorn."

53.30 "I saw that many pastors allowed themselves to be taken up with

ideas that were dangerous to the Church. They were building a great,

strange, and extravagant Church. Everyone was to be admitted in it in

order to be united and have equal rights: Evangelicals, Catholics

[Ecclesia dei and Lefebvre?], sects of every description. Such was to be

the new Church. . . But God had other designs.

-- Ari (A@whychange.com), May 17, 2003.

Ari--
Does this reflect on our Holy Father? Maybe you can explain. This train of could-be prophesies is relative to the era we're in today? How would you know?

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), May 17, 2003.

Oh, yes. Heresies of Robert P.

Well-known unconfessed sinner.

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), May 18, 2003.