[BipolarBob]

The Antichrist is supposed to be really really popular.
Not necessarily. A world crisis may make him appear really really needed. As in a Savior in a global crisis. He may appear to be the Only One able to avert said crisis. Popular? maybe. Powerful? definitely

[BlackAdderess]

Erdogan might be in a position to avert a global crisis. Pope Francis seems much more likely to cause a global crisis. The Roman Catholics are not going to be the cause of any global crisis anytime soon. They are the ones who will listen to him. Islam is a far younger religion that has not worked out the kinks yet. There are still plenty of adherents willing to do horrible things in the name of religion. Erdogan would be in a position to talk them down. Pope Francis wouldn’t.