While it is not here my place to judge the faith of his heart, it will be the place of those inside and outside the Roman Catholic Church to make judgments about his legacy. Popes either strengthen or weaken the faith and either leave the community they steward in stronger or weaker condition. While some may point to statistics of attendance or membership or even finance as the markers of his success or the evidence of his failure, the real issue is the faith itself. Was it clearly confessed? Was the confidence both within the church body he led and its witness to those outside confirmed in orthodoxy, vigor, and truth or not? God will judge the heart of everyone who dies and without the cover of Jesus' blood He will judge them according to their sins. Those who are now preparing to bury this man will also prepare to find another Pope and it is in this that the test of their mettle will be found. If they have courage, they will find someone who can restore confidence in the basic teachings of creed and confession, basic clarity in the morality of right and wrong, basic confidence in the truth of the Scriptures. If they do, he will not look much like Jorge Bergoglio and much more like the man he succeeded.
While I have no horse in this race, every Christian benefits from someone with doctrinal orthodoxy and a pastoral heart and if you have to choose, choose doctrinal orthodoxy over a pastoral heart that has no foundation in the Word of the Lord that endures forever.
3 comments:
A Gateway Pundit article (https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/04/here-are-leading-contenders-succeed-pope-francis-as/) has listed some contenders to replace Francis.
The Globalist Left-Wing Picks:
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle (Philippines)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy)
Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline (France)
Cardinal Mario Grech (Malta)
Cardinal Juan Jose Omella (Spain)
Cardinal Joseph Tobin (USA)
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (Italy)
Conservative and Traditionalist Hopefuls:
Cardinal Wim Eijk (Netherlands)
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (Congo)
Cardinal Péter Erdő (Hungary)
Cardinal Raymond Burke (USA)
Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana)
However since Pope Francis has previously selected 108 (80%) of the 135 Cardinals eligible to vote, the new Antichrist (to be elected by a 2/3 majority) will likely be from the first list or a similarly leftist person.
You're a sorry soul. I'll pray for you.
A change in the office of the Pope will likely not eradicate wrong doctrines, even if we wish to defend orthodoxy over cultural relevance. In a manner of speaking, it is painful that the church universal founded on Christ and by Christ was from the start beset by erroneous and unbiblical teachings, schisms, and contentious doctrinal disputes…leading to the growth of persecution and bloodshed between brethren, and the split into many denominations. What suffered in all of this hostility? Answer, the Gospel. I was raised a Catholic, attended 9 years of parochial education, remained Catholic until age 40, then seeking to more clearly understand the Biblical truths which must guide us, I moved from Protestant denomination to denomination, looking for the perfect church with the clearest doctrinal positions that I, a mere lay person, could grasp. I am now 80, having worshipped as a Catholic, Lutheran (LCMS), Reformed, Orthodox Presbyterian, Baptist, back to the LCMS, and now and for the past two years, in a non denominational Community Church which leans reformed and spurns the liberalism and wokeness of many American bodies. I do not know if I am a full Calvinist or hyper Calvinist, but the Bible teaches it in some verses. I do not know how much of a part free will plays in sanctification by the Holy Spirit. Given my sinful nature, I need the Holy Spirit to correct the wayward Adam inside. But on the fundamentals of the faith, salvation through Christ alone, the need for our repentance, justification by faith, etc, these are the important, no, these are the urgent things. Those who can keep their focus on Christ, not on Popes, rituals, traditions, disputes over doctrines, well these are the ones who have found the Pearl. All others are looking for shiny things, but cannot see the truth. Soli Deo Gloria
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