Cardinal Koch on the ecumenical movement and Pope Francis

Ecumenical Service (Eduardo Frei Ruiz Tagle)

Cardinal Kurt Koch was interviewed on Vatican Radio. Here is some of what occurred:

What impact has Pope Francis had on the ecumenical movement?

All popes after the Second Vatican Council have had a very big heart for ecumenism: Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI all had many ecumenical engagements. I think with Pope Francis we have a new engagement, an engagement in the manner of his pontificate, and of being very open to the other Churches. And he has had many visits: the Coptic Pope, Tawadros II, has visited the Holy Father here in Rome, and the Patriarch of Antioch and Alexandria, and also the Archbishop of Canterbury, from the Anglicans. All the heads of Churches will come to Rome, and I think this is a very good sign.

What are likely to be the most important ecumenical highlights for 2014?

The most important opportunity for 2014 is the fifty year commemoration of the first meeting between the Ecumenical Patriarch from Constantinople, Athenagoras I, and Pope Paul VI in Jerusalem. After more than a thousand years, this first meeting in Jerusalem was very kindly and heartfelt. I think it is very important to commemorate this meeting: it was the beginning of a relation of friendship between Constantinople and Rome, and the beginning of the dialogue of charity and the dialogue of truth. In this sense I hope the meeting between the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis can be a new opportunity, with as much engagement and passion for unity as was present in 1964.

One of the obstacles to that relationship is the difficulties between the different Orthodox Churches……

There are many tensions between Orthodox churches – I think there are more tensions between the Orthodox than between the Orthodox and Catholics. Above all, now there is this new document from the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate about primacy. […]The dialogue is ongoing about this issue, and now we have a declaration with high authority, and now we must find a new way to continue this dialogue. […] I think it’s very good that now we have discussion, public discussion between Constantinople and Moscow, I think that’s a very good opportunity. This is an inner Orthodox discussion, and [the Catholic Church] cannot interfere in this discussion; when the Orthodox ask for our help, it’s clear we will be present. We have the next plenary of the Commission next September, and I think it’s very important to prepare very well for this session.

The Week of Prayer is always preceded by a day for relations with Jews – what impact has Pope Francis had on this relationship?

Pope Francis has many relationships of friendship [with the Jewish community] in Buenos Aires; above all, he has published his book with Rabbi Skorka, who is present in Rome for a conference at the Gregorian University. This friendship between Jews and Christians will be deepened, I think, in the pontificate of Pope Francis. […] And this is very important today, in a world with many challenges of new anti-Semitism and new persecution of Christians. I think we must give common witness for human rights and for the humanity of all people in this world. I’m very impressed that some synagogues in the States have convoked prayers for the persecuted Christians in the Middle East: I think this is a very beautiful sign of new friendship for the future.”

http://www.news.va/en/news/cardinal-koch-on-christian-unity-and-jewish-cathol

Cardinal Kurt Koch is head of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Cardinal Koch and Pope Francis are trying to put together an ecumenical church that is warned about in biblical, and even certain Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholic prophecies. Catholic leaders believe that in end times that compromise will happen, the Orthodox, Jews, Russians, Chinese, Indians, and others will accept their end time ecumenical faith.

Apparently related to this, last month, Cardinal Koch also went to Russia to have ecumenical talks with the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church (see Vatican’s Cardinal Koch to meet with Russian Patriarch Kirill).

Do you understand the dangers of the ecumenical movement?

The Bible warns about a leader who will have worldwide support, including religious leaders that will support him:

4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world…

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666. (Revelation 13:4-8, 11-18)

36 “Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. 37 He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. 38 But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. 39 Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain. (Daniel 11:36-39)

The foundational steps for this are taking place now. Cardinal Koch and Pope Francis, along with the Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and various Protestant and Anglican leaders, are working on this. Pope Francis is planning on meeting with several of them this Spring.

The Bible warns about a leader who “he shall think himself able to change times and laws” (Daniel 7:25, Douay-Rheims). The Catholic saint Jerome wrote that this leader was the King of the North (in his commentary on Daniel 11) and Antichrist (in his commentary on Daniel 7 as he, like many, confused the two):

“. . .And he shall crush the saints of the Most High, and will suppose himself to be able to alter times and laws.” The Antichrist will wage war against the saints and will overcome them; and he shall exalt himself to such a height of arrogance as to attempt changing the very laws of God and the sacred rites as well…” (Jerome. Commentary on Daniel, Chapter 7. Translated by Gleason L. Archer. (1958). http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/jerome_daniel_02_text.htm viewed 07/30/11)

While the Beast/King of the North is primarily a political-military leader who will persecute the saints, per Daniel 11:30-35, and the final Antichrist is primarily a religious leader per 1 John 4:1-3 who will support that Beast per Revelation 13:12, Jerome did understand that some type of compromise with God’s law must happen for this type of unity.

That, of course, is consistent with the following:

1 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. 3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)

Lawlessness, combined with signs and lying wonders (“miracles’) will deceive many.

First, to prepare people for the signs, many are advocating compromise. And thought many since the days of the Apostle Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:7), more intense pressure will build. Currently leading religious leaders are getting together to set the world up to accept compromise.

The time to stand up for the truth and believe the Bible over political ecumenical gestures of human leaders is now. Those who wait too late to truly live like a real Christian will be deceived by what is going to come (Matthew 24:24).

Some items of related interest may include:

Should you be concerned about the ecumenical movement? Are you aware of the ecumenical movement? Do you understand the biblical dangers of it? Do you know what the World Council of Churches is supposed to be all about? Are you aware what has been happening recently with the Eastern Orthodox? Did you know that in December 2013, Pope Francis’ representative essentially eliminated a ‘conservative order’ and said that they needed to abide by Vatican II? Will there be signs and wonders that will help bring about ecumenical unity? Is compromise away from the Bible what must occur for the type of unity that many Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, and Roman Catholic leaders want?
Why Should American Catholics Should Fear Unity with the Orthodox? Are the current ecumenical meetings a good thing or will they result in disaster? Is doctrinal compromise good?
Orthodox Must Reject Unity with the Roman Catholics Unity between these groups will put them in position to be part of the final end time Babylon that the Bible warns against as well as require improper compromise.
Living as a Christian: How and Why? In what ways do Christians live differently than others. What about praying, fasting, tithing, holy days, and the world? There is also a YouTube video related to that also called: Living as a Christian: How and Why?
Who is the Man of Sin of 2 Thessalonians 2? Is this the King of the North, the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13:1-11, or the two-horned Beast of Revelation 13:12-16? Some rely on traditions, but what does the Bible teach? Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Quién es el Hombre de Pecado de 2 Tesalonicenses 2? Here is a version in Mandarin: 主编：谁是’大罪人’？Here is a link to a related YouTube video, in English, titled Who is the Man of Sin?
Some Doctrines of Antichrist Are there any doctrines taught outside the Churches of God which can be considered as doctrines of antichrist? This article suggests at least three. It also provides information on 666 and the identity of “the false prophet.” Plus it shows that several Catholic writers seem to warn about an ecumenical antipope that will support heresy. You can also watch a video titled What Does the Bible teach about the Antichrist?
Could Pope Francis be the Last Pope and Antichrist? According to some interpretations of the prophecies of the popes by the Catholic saint and Bishop Malachy, Pope Francis I is in the position of “Peter the Roman,” the pontiff who reigns during tribulations until around the time of the destruction of Rome. Do biblical prophecies warn of someone that sounds like Peter the Roman? Could Francis I be the heretical antipope of Catholic private prophecies and the final Antichrist of Bible prophecy? This is a YouTube video.
The Malachy Prophecies and “Peter the Roman” An Irish bishop allegedly predicted something about 112 popes in the 12th century. Pope Benedict XVI was number 111. Francis would seem to be number 112–if he is that one–and if so, he is to reign until Rome is destroyed. May he be an antipope/final Antichrist?
The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Amazon Book What does the Bible say about a pope near this time? Is the final pope to be an antipope and antichrist? Does Catholic prophecy point to Pope Francis as being the dreaded “Peter the Roman”? This 186 page book provides information and answers.
The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle This electronic version of the printed book which is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to The Last Pope: Do Biblical and Catholic Prophecies Point to Pope Francis? Kindle.