Will Pope Francis Become a Holy Man for the World? [Ephesians 4]

Huffington Post ^ | 01/04/2016 | Deepak Chopra

[Jan_Sobieski]

Pope Francis I is poised to be more than a very popular pontiff graced with humility and an approach of love and gentleness, two words he often uses. He could rise to become a symbol of holiness beyond the Catholic Church, as the Dalai Lama is a symbol of enlightenment beyond Tibetan Buddhism. Pope Francis has designated 2016 a Holy Year of Mercy, beginning on December 8 of last year. The specifically Catholic aspect of this announcement is that the Church will be "a witness of mercy," but for those of us who aren't Catholic, there's a universal message voiced personally by the Pope:

"No one can be excluded from God's mercy."

The question, then, is how potent this mission will be. Francis I has already achieved something extraordinary by helping to bring the U.S. and Cuba together in a historic reconciliation. Can being a witness actually extend mercy in a world where, to the distress of all believers, God has been hijacked by fanatical extremists? Only the Pope knows what actions he will take. Standing outside the Church looking in, millions of non-Catholics feel a fresh wind blowing. Pope Francis has shown that he is aware of world problems, and from the outset he has occupied a unique position. He's become a spiritual exemplar whose personal values remind us of the Jesus we learned about as children. In India I was educated as a boy by Irish Christian Brothers, because my parents believed that their schools were the best...

[Jan_Sobieski]

The spirit of the age (Zeitgeist) is blowing, and Oprah Winfrey's spiritual adviser speaks for an entire generation of lost souls. Notice how the world loves Pope Francis! For in Francis they find the ecumenical world leader that they have always wanted. A leader who presents a new path to God; a broad way that excludes no one...like Francis says, "No one can be excluded from God's mercy." Anyone...homosexuals, pedophiles, Hindus, Muslims, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Buddhists, and atheists deserve God's mercy.

This sounds wonderful, but it is a lie. Jesus Christ said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, but by me" - John 14:6. In other words, no one receives God's mercy unless they believe Jesus Christ, His words, His unique exclusionary Godhood, and His substitutionary death on the cross for our sins. We should expect Deepak Chopra, follower of demon possessed guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (spiritual leader of the Beatles, Beach Boys, and countless Hollywood Stars) to be deceived. But the Pope? The self proclaimed leader of Christendom? This is the spirit of the age...the Zeitgeist. Pope Francis and millions of non-Catholics feel this fresh wind blowing (and are being deceived by it). Is is blowing you?

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness *, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

[Roman_War_Criminal]

You and I see RED FLAGS all over the place with this bad news known as “Francis”.

This is of particular interest (you may have already seen it since we seem to have similar frequencies).

In 2016, Francis may be a pope in search of a partner

http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2016/01/03/in-2016-francis-may-be-a-pope-in-search-of-a-partner/

[PAR35]

While I disagreed with him theologically, I respected Benedict.

Francis, however, would be fungible with Bernie Sanders.

[El Cid]

Notice how the world loves Pope Francis!

I thought he was universally despised. Except by unbelievers.

Maybe I hang around the FreeRepublic too much. It is rare to get a good word about Francis - and then it is only done grudgingly (or by blaming poor translations)...

[Bryanw92]

The Francis did not go as far off the Left end as Deepak thinks.

>>The Sacrament of Reconciliation, he said, allows the faithful to draw near to God and be certain of his forgiveness. “He really is rich in mercy,” he stressed. “He extends it abundantly to those who turn to Him with a sincere heart.”*

Deepak ignored the part about the faithful and those who turn to Him with a sincere heart. God grants his grace to those who he chooses.

*http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-francis-no-one-is-excluded-from-the-mercy-of-god

[faithhopecharity]

first, he has to become a holy man for the Church

[tophat9000]

While I disagreed with him theologically, I respected Benedict.

I would agree with you on that....im not Catholic but respected John Paul and Benedict as true Christian leaders.....

This Pope is different ....end times predicted something like this and this Pope seem to be fulfilling it......add in the oddity in how this Pope came about with Benedict stepping down... thing point to God hand in end time... we know certain things have to be allowed to happen... and the worldly men will rejoice

[Boogieman]

LOL. If HuffPo thinks he is a “symbol of holiness”, he really COULD be the antichrist!

(That comment is at least half sarcastic... I think the antichrist will need to be Jewish, at least by ancestry)

[Jan_Sobieski]

He is not Holy, he is Anti-Christ

[Blue Collar Christian]

Satan is this world’s “holy” one, and misdirecting “Christian” leaders like the current Pope are only his representatives.

[Jan_Sobieski]

Great stuff! He is definitely anti-Christ...question is, is he THE false prophet of Revelation 13? Very possible...or at least a great foreshadow...

[Jan_Sobieski]

If HuffPo thinks he is a “symbol of holiness”, he really COULD be the antichrist!

Exactly! Francis is more likely the False Prophet of Revelation 13...or a foreshadow. Regarding the Anti-Christ, he may possibly have a Jewish connection, however some of the top Messianic Hebrew scholars like Arnold Fructenbaum say that he does not necessarily have to be Jewish.

[HarleyLady27]

I don’t know about ‘anti-christ’ but I do believe that Francis is NOT the one to lead our Church....

I miss Benedict so much and John Paul 11....wished they were here to lead us thru this mess ...

[circlecity]

"Pope Francis I is poised to be more than a very popular pontiff graced with humility...."

For someone "graced with humility I've never seen a Pope who spent more time courting the press and seeking attention.

[faithhopecharity]

he is surely very different from the last 3 or 4 Popes (who I felt quite positively about, imho)

[Jan_Sobieski]

Having grown up in a Catholic family, I was surprised when I started reading the Bible and found that much of what the RCC believes and practices is not Biblical (i.e. priestly celibacy, salvation by sacrament rather than faith, transubstantiation, prayer to saints rather than to Jesus Christ, etc.) I advise all those who love God to get out of this corpse while you can. The pedophiles and homosexuals are now leading the RCC to hell.

[Jan_Sobieski]

Having grown up in a Catholic family, I was surprised when I started reading the Bible and found that much of what the RCC believes and practices is not Biblical (i.e. priestly celibacy, salvation by sacrament rather than faith, transubstantiation, prayer to saints rather than to Jesus Christ, etc.) I advise all those who love God to get out of this corpse while you can. The pedophiles and homosexuals are now leading the RCC to hell.

[hsmomx3]

False prophet?????

[AlaskaErik]

Frankie the idiot pope will never speak for anyone other than the Marxists and other undesirable elements of society.

[Boogieman]

A possibility I suppose. I don’t think there are many specific qualifications we can divine from Scripture about that particular character, so I think he’ll be hard to identify until the AC becomes apparent.