Europe Bows to the Vatican

Europe is returning to its religious roots—Roman Catholicism. This year saw both the Anglican and Eastern Orthodox churches make strides toward union with the Vatican. The Traditional Anglican Communion issued a petition to the Vatican this fall requesting that approximately 400,000 Anglicans be admitted into the Catholic Church. The number of Catholics in Britain that attend weekly mass now surpasses the number of Anglicans that go to church each Sunday. The Times of London reported in February that leaders in both the Anglican and Catholic churches have agreed to seek ways to bring the Anglicans back under the leadership of the pope.

Even as the Anglican Church moves back into the Catholic fold, Pope Benedict xvi is working toward Catholic reconciliation with the Eastern Orthodox churches. In a Catholic-Orthodox reconciliation meeting on October 13, a joint statement was signed by Catholic and Eastern Orthodox leaders (except for the Moscow representatives) recognizing the pope’s primacy over the Eastern Orthodox patriarchs, including those of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem.

Herbert W. Armstrong explained for years that the Bible predicted that Anglican, Orthodox and Protestant churches would seek communion with Rome. These developments are increasing the power of the Catholic Church over Europe.

On February 19, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi met with some of the pope’s senior advisers in a closed-door session. Pope Benedict severely criticized Prodi for trying to push through legislation in Italy that would recognize civil unions between homosexuals. Prodi resigned within two days. Two days later, Prodi had repented of his political error and retained the Italian premiership.

The event proved that Prodi has bowed to Rome. Soon all Europe will do the same.