The Pope of Rome and the Protestant | Morning Studies

 By Pastor Benjamin Glaser – Posted at Thoughts From Parson Farms:How Are We to Observe the Election Taking Place in the Roman See?

Good Morning,

Given the ubiquitous coverage the Roman Pope receives on American television, especially the channels that most of you watch on a regular basis, it is probably a good idea to talk a little bit in this prayer and worship help about why the Roman Catholic Church is treated as almost the one true Church by our Media. Some of that is because for whatever reason most of the talking heads on those networks are themselves Roman Catholic so it comes natural for them to report on stuff that they are interested in. Yet for those of us who are Protestants it can seem a bit odd. That is especially the case for those of us who are children of the Westminster Confession of Faith.

A large part of the reason of course for the more than normal conversation on this matter is that the College of Cardinals is meeting in Rome at present to select a new Pope after the death of Francis I. It is worth our time to take a second just to go over how that works. There are 133 Cardinal Electors from around the world who will use a ballot, much like what we use to elect elders and deacons to select the 267th Roman Pontiff. The ballot is rectangular, with the top-half bearing the Latin phrase Eligo in Summum Pontificem and the bottom-half left open for the cardinal to jot down the name of the man they desire to serve. The only men eligible for election are one of the 133 cardinals present for the vote. To be a Cardinal Elector one has to be under 80 years of age and specially appointed by the previous Pope for that role. Each time a vote is held the cards are taken and if there is not a 2/3s majority the ballots are burned and a black or grey smoke will appear. However, if the 2/3s majority is reached then the smoke will be white and the new pope will then be presented to the awaiting crowds in the St. Peter Square. The name of the pope is often seen as a testimony to what kind of Pope he will be, and it is carefully selected by the man beforehand and then told to the world in an amazing spectacle of grandeur.

Why should any of this matter to us? In the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church until 1976 we confessed that the Pope of Rome was, “ . . . that Antichrist, that man of sin, and son of perdition, that exalts himself, in the Church, against Christ and all that is called God.” Basically as Magisterial Protestants we are not fans of the Pope, to put it mildly…

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https://rchstudies.christian-heritage-news.com/2025/05/the-pope-of-rome-and-protestant.html

The Eyes Of The World Turn To The Vatican As 133 Cardinals Now Ready To Elect The Next Roman Pontifex Maximus To Rule Over Catholic Faithful | Now The End Begins

All eyes are on Vatican City Tuesday with just over a day to go until the start of the papal conclave of 133 cardinals meeting to elect the 267th pope.

Yesterday, we brought you the story of the man we say just might be the biblical man of sin, Emmanuel Macron, giving a speech at the Grand Lodge of Freemasonry in Paris where he urged freemasons to “fight the good fight” of secularism. Today we bring you news of 133 cardinals who are now ready to elect the next pope, the Roman successor to the original Pontifex Maximus, Julius Caesar. Of course, it has to have the number ’33’ front and center, Freemasons wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s the memo.

“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.” Revelation 13:11 (KJB)

If we are where I think we are on the end times timeline, we are going to need a pope that is highly energized and fully prepared to support the man of sin when he is revealed. There are a number of good candidates for that role, chiefly cardinals Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Robert Sarah, with our money being on the latter of the two. But the Lord knows, and either way, it’s going to be a wild ride. With so much focus on the Roman Catholic Church, you won’t find a better time than right now to reach out to your Roman Catholic friends with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Click the link below to order tracts and browse some really good books that will equip you to better understand the ROMAN Catholic Church.

World’s eyes turn to Vatican City as papal conclave to elect next pope set to begin

FROM ABC NEWS: It would be “unexpected” if the conclave goes past Friday, Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, archbishop of Algiers, told ABC News at the Vatican on Tuesday. “If on Friday night, the pope is not elected, it will be that something unexpected has happened,” Vesco said. The 12th and last general congregation was held on Tuesday.

A total of 170 cardinals from around the world have already arrived in Vatican City following the death of Pope Francis, with many of them listening to approximately 20 interventions, or speeches, focusing on themes of major pastoral and ecclesial relevance as well as some time devoted to the question of ethnicism within the church and in society on Monday evening. Migration was also discussed, recognizing migrants as a gift for the Church, but also highlighting the urgency of accompanying them and supporting their faith in contexts of mobility and change.

Watch Pope Pius XII being carried in like a Roman god, claiming dominion over Europe after WWII. The Roman Catholic Church always plays both sides of the street, giving their allegiance to whoever looks like they will be the winner. This is idolatry at its finest. pic.twitter.com/6WNlbetHQH

— Now The End Begins (@NowTheEndBegins) April 30, 2025

The ongoing wars around the world were referred on several occasions during Monday evening’s general congregation, with tones often marked by direct testimonies from cardinals who come from the regions affected by conflicts. The discussion subsequently returned to the subject of the path of the Synod on synodality, seen as a concrete expression of an ecclesiology of communion, in which everyone is called to participate, listen and discern together.

Meanwhile, the cardinals also reaffirmed their commitment and responsibility to support the new Pope, called to be a true pastor, a guide who knows how to go beyond the confines of the Catholic Church alone, promoting dialogue and building relationships with other religious and cultural worlds.

In total, 133 cardinals will be voting during this conclave, the most electors ever, with 108 of them being appointed by Pope Francis. Ten are from the United States. READ MORE

Papal Conclave to elect new pope shrouded in secrecy

The College of Cardinals is meeting to select the new pope. The event is called the “conclave,” or in latin, con clave, which translates to “with key.” The process to decide who will hold that key to the church is locked behind closed doors, veiled in secrecy.

https://www.nowtheendbegins.com/the-eyes-of-the-world-turn-to-the-vatican-as-133-cardinals-now-ready-to-elect-the-next-roman-pontifex-maximus-to-rule-over-catholic-faithful/

The post The Eyes Of The World Turn To The Vatican As 133 Cardinals Now Ready To Elect The Next Roman Pontifex Maximus To Rule Over Catholic Faithful appeared first on Now The End Begins.