July 2005

There are both ancient and new prophecies that relate to the office of the Pope and the future of the Catholic religion. Would you please comment on the recent passing of the Pope, and the impact that his passing may have upon the world? Any insight as to the future of the world's religions would also be very much appreciated.

A comment is perhaps all that can be offered, for anything more than an observation might be considered an opinion, and opinions all too quickly become judgments, evaluations, assessments, and conclusions, and these are generally based upon less than desirable evidence. Unfortunately, such accounts are hastily adopted by the public, which has a greater circulation rate than any publication that has ever been in print.

The problem with prophecies is that one cannot draw a proper conclusion from them based upon a simple observation of facts, as these are often lacking. More often than not experts are called upon to interpret them, but the most they can offer is their 'expert opinion', do you see? A prediction is a statement made regarding what is believed will happen at some point in the future relative to one or more subjects. Predictions can be based upon present indicators, past experience, or any other objective or subjective phenomena (including channeling). In other words, anyone can predict anything from next week's weather to next year's pope. If things turn out the way the general population expected, in other words, without the need of an oracle's toolbox, both the predictor and the prediction will fall by wayside, making way for the next set of oracles-in-the-making to try their luck. On the other hand, if the results are surprising and unknowable to the average person, the predictor is elevated overnight to the status of a prophet. History has had marked many of these, and although an official job description for a maker of predictions does not exist, the number of job applicants never seems to diminish, present timeline included.

A prophecy, unlike a prediction, can span many centuries or life times, according the prophet a few extra chapters in the scrolls of history, at least until he can be measured by the legacy of his words, or those that have been attributed to him. Prophecies differ from predictions in that they infer the will of a deity or a supernatural power that has inspired the prophecy. Some believe that otherworldly powers instill or bestow powers upon a prophet, who then reveals or interprets the significance of the prophecy to those of less spiritual privilege. Again, if all goes well, the prophet is well on his way to becoming an inspirational leader or teacher, an advocate for an idea, a deity, or a cause. Unfortunately for most, history has recorded more one-hit-wonders than true visionaries. Only a handful or so have done more than shed light on what has already been foreshadowed, ordained or otherwise chosen. True prophets leave behind empty shoes that few can fill, but herein lies the rub: humanity tends to both favor and fear its prophets, be they foolish or sage, while it ignores the simple, but profound words and deeds of its true visionaries. Those who croon from the balconies and the rooftops, like birds of brightly colored feathers, often have more to display than to say.

The most recent Pope, John Paul II, delayed the time of his passing as long as he could. Frail and ill, he maintained the position he was elected to, as ordained by those who elected him, as well as the divine power that resounded throughout his being. He was aware of the many prophecies regarding his office and his person. Some of these are well known and widely available to the public, but others have remained private. The Vatican owns the most extensive collection of writings in the world. The Vatican library is a private, temperature-controlled vault, encompassing over a million volumes of books, scrolls, plates, templates and steles. The various texts are in languages that are common to the modern world, as well as those long since obsolete and others that are purely symbolic in nature. John Paul made frequent visits to this library, allowing his instincts, dreams and visions to guide him accordingly. His personal attendants also conducted extensive research for him on a variety of subjects, some of which could be considered occult in nature.

The office of the Pope has been no stranger to controversy or conspiracy, and John Paul felt it important to continue to protect the Church in its sovereign rights. He believed in the sovereign wisdom of others, but he also believed that the Catholic Church was the best shepherd when it came to tending the world's flocks. He honored other world religions, and even admired the earthiness of certain pagan rituals, though he would not publicly admit this. He believed in reverence and penitence, and feared for humanity's future based upon the views of the world's present leaders.

Pope John Paul II believed deeply in some of the prophecies, such as the ones brought forward by the children of Fatima; he also quietly and modestly discredited others. He did not reveal the prophecies of Fatima as they were originally put to him, thus they are still misunderstood or misconstrued by most. His life was one of privilege as well as suffering, as all lives are to some extent. In the latter part of his life he studied eschatology, the branch of theology that concerns doctrines relative to the 'end times'. He very much wanted to experience this time period for himself, and to assist humanity in averting what dangers might be in his power to do. To this end, he clung to life longer than he would have otherwise, bearing physical burdens and raising alarm within the higher echelons of the Church from time to time. He chose to surrender his office and his life in the same moment.

As to the future of the office of the Pope, much is yet to be seen. Conflict between conservative, moderate and liberate thinkers exists everywhere now, and the Church is no exception. All organized religions are currently under scrutiny, and the infrastructure that has supported them thus far is overburdened and stressed. Earthquakes are tearing at the landscape in many places throughout the world; they will do the same in other environments as the strain becomes insurmountable. As of this writing the new Pope has just been elected and has chosen the name, Benedictine XVI. Within moments of his coronation, predictions as to the possible short tenure of his reign were already circulating. So that such immature thoughts are not derived from this text, it will be said that Benedictine like benediction, is an expression of good wishes and approval. In the Roman Catholic Church it is the state of blessed by the Host, which is exactly what the newly elected and crowned Pope experienced.

It is possible that this new Pope will be a man of great power, influenced equally by his morals and personal politics as by the movement of his spirit. It is also possible that he will be no more than a figurehead, with the true power of the Church wielded from deep within the halls of the Vatican, and beneath it as well. Either way, the existing prophecies will not diminish him. Already they surround and enfold this new pontiff, because they were designed to do just that. The office of the Pope is the human extension of the Church. As such it is important to remember that it is the Church that has assigned a voice to god and not the other way around. With great pomp and circumstance the new Pope will be heralded by the public and then paraded about for all the world to see, but only the people can decide what rights and privileges will be accorded to him. Visiting dignitaries will visit him and invite him to visit their homeland as well. But the powerful, who have made their own accord with God, will be more wary, lest an uninitiated newcomer onto the world stage endangers their own agenda.

The Bible is encoded with allegory that represents the movement of the soul in its deeper aspects. Many of the Bible's depictions are symbolic in nature, as are its characters and events. Some depict moral obligations while others express political meaning through scenes and stories; only a few of these can be taken literally. The Bible is a digest, a compilation depicting the opinions, obsessions, and rites of passage of a bygone era. Those who are most passionate about it today were the leaders and followers of its subject matter long ago as well. It is a book of many chapters. Some are soft, sublime and poetic while others are filled with hyperbole -- deliberate and obvious exaggerations meant to agitate or instill fear.

The future path of organized religion is the same as that of unorganized religion, and the same can be said of all spiritual sects, beliefs, and minor ordinations. It is through both lit and unlit corridors of light and dark that each being must explore concept as well as ritual. This is the true purpose of the support one should expect to receive along one's endeavored path. All else is superfluous to first cause, and can be discarded as soon as its false light is discovered. Long ago, organized religion was a forum for gathered and disseminating teachings from different sources and places. Science, structure, language, and spirit were all discussed in equal measure, but the lesser mind is easily influenced and it was not long before it was easily controlled and manipulated. The lesser mind does not question, it does not find fallacy within authority. Instead, it seeks the absolute - not by becoming it, but by succumbing to it. Absolute authority, like absolute power, eventually crumbles, because it cannot sustain its own weight, which by nature is quite dense. As long as humanity remains spiritually divided it will be susceptible to control by institutions that require membership and impose allegiance.

The new Pope will hold open the door to the Church as any good shepherd is obligated to do. How wide that opening or how narrow its interpretation is still to be seen. In the days that follow one religion's gain will be another's loss and all religions will tilt and repolarize themselves along with the rest of the planet. Change will be slow for some and quite swift for others as secrets long held silent are revealed. As the world continues to reorganize its priorities, its governments and its lands, religion will be forced to follow suit. The mighty will surely fall and the humble will rise, but without truth to guide reason, they too shall fall from great heights.

The conflicts of spirit will be many, but the rewards will be greater still. Ask yourself from whence the Pope derives his power, and then see if your own source is lesser, greater, or equal. The door to spirit is always open even though its paths are many. Truth, though not elusive, can never be captured. It can only be embraced, and temporarily at that. As humanity continues to rediscover its path it will also choose a different future. These truths may be temporarily harbored behind closed doors that offer only limited admittance, but the evolution of consciousness will soon offer more choices.

Those who concentrate on issues of survival may miss the more subtle whispers of the newer truths, which have only recently become known, therefore choose a course that is steady and firm, but resilient. Anticipate, explore, and then resolve to respond. Immediate action or reaction is not always the most prudent choice. Be creative and expansive in all of your endeavors and you will be wiser tomorrow than you are today. Listen to the predictions that are offered, but extract the knowledge from the babble that hides it. Ask by whose authority a prophecy exists, and then see if that being holds authority where you are concerned.

Copyright © 2005 Pepper Lewis, The Peaceful Planet