Pope Francis Timeline: The Papal Record -- 2013

I've been thinking a lot about the pope and his papacy's impact on the Church, which any sensible person must recognize by now is a disaster. He undermines the faith, he aids and abets enemies of the Church, his off-the-cuff bombs lobbed on almost every plane ride create confusion and chaos. 

Horrors! (And I mean that literally.) He's a one man wrecking ball!

I think we could say the same thing about Francis that Churchill said about Lenin. Lenin returned to Russia like a "plague bacillus" to kill the monarchy. Pope Francis, injected into the Church by the St. Gallen's mafia, has infected us with the plague bacillus of modernism on steroids. He, of course, cannot "kill" the Church, but he seems to be trying his darnedest! We all need to pray and sacrifice for him, that's for sure.

At any rate, it occurred to me to examine his actions year-by-year since the beginning of his pontificate in 2013. After six years we have more perspective on his not-so-hidden agenda. I'd love to see a Church historian do this in a book. No doubt that will happen at some point. 

There's so much to cover that I'll be dividing this up into separate posts for each year and will create a page for all of them. 

The story really begins several decades before the 2013 conclave, but, for now, we'll start from Pope Benedict's resignation.

• February 11, 2013: Pope Benedict resigns and two lightening bolts strike the Vatican directly on the dome of St. Peter's. In his final addresses, Pope Benedict urges Catholics to stay strong on central Catholic doctrines relating to marriage, the family, etc. At his last general audience he says:

“It is not easy to publicly oppose the decisions that many consider to be obvious, such as abortion in the case of an unwanted pregnancy, euthanasia in the case of serious illness, or the selection of embryos to avoid hereditary diseases.” (Source)

The tone of the Ash Wednesday Mass homily was sombre, befitting the occasion of both the first day of Lent and the mood of Catholics around the world at Pope Benedict’s almost unprecedented and shocking revelation on Monday. In the homily, he warned ominously against divisions and “sins against the unity of the Church”.

Six years into Pope Francis' pontificate, Pope Benedict's warning seem more ominous than at the time. 

• March 13, 2013: The conclave elects Jorge Bergoglio, cardinal-archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina as pope and he chooses the name Francis. Among those on the balcony with the pope is Cardinal Godfried Danneels, a member of the Saint Gallen's mafia who attempted to elect Bergoglio at the 2005 conclave that chose Joseph Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI.  The mafia, according to German journalist, Paul Badde, included Cardinals Silvestrini, Danneels, Murphy O’Connor, Martini, Lehmann, Kasper and Audrys Juozas Bačkis of Lithuania. In an interview with Vatican journalist Edward Pentin, Badde said "I had heard that 'their absolute aim is to get Ratzinger out of the race'; and that they met at Villa Nazareth."  Read more about Danneels here and here. More and more evidence is emerging that the pope's election was highly political. In a 2017 book,  The Keys and the Kingdom. The British and the Papacy from John Paul II to Francis, Catherine Pepinster, former editor of the UK's liberal Catholic paper, The Tablet, pointed to Francis' election as a "very British coup," one that began well before the conclave. (See here.)

Danneels sits smug and complacent in the catbird seat celebrating his group's success.

• March 2013: Francis chooses to stay at Casa Santa Marta. The pope's decision to remain at the guest house Casa Santa Marta was heralded by many as proof of his humble lifestyle and desire for simplicity. On the other hand, he is much less insulated and sets his own agenda. While he's shed some of the trappings of power he holds firm to the levers of power.

• April 13, 2013: Pope Francis names C9 Council of Cardinals to advise him on reform of the curia. The council has been controversial since its inception and its results have been underwhelming to say the least. Many are still waiting to see real reform. See here. 

• June 6, 2013: Meeting with CLAR (Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious Men and Women - Confederación Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Religiosos y Religiosas) No recording of this one-hour meeting was made. The report was based on the recollections of many of the religious attending. This is the event where he spoke disparagingly of the group that sent a spiritual bouquet, dismissing them saying, "when I was elected, I received a letter from one of these groups, and they said: 'Your Holiness, we offer you this spiritual treasure: 3,525 rosaries.' Why don't they say, 'we pray for you, we ask...', but this thing of counting..." He affirms the existence of a "gay lobby." He also mentions the reform of the curia:

the cardinals of the Commission will move it forward. There is Rodríguez Maradiaga, who is Latin American, who is in front of it, there is Errázuriz, they are very organized. The one from Munich is also very organized. They will move it forward.

Of course, the "one from Munich" is Cardinal Marx one of the most dissident cardinals in the Church and Mariadaga's archdiocesan seminary was a hotbed of homosexuality. Mariadaga continues as a close adviser to the pope. Since 2013 he has been the head of the pope's C9 Council of Advisers.

• June 29, 2013: Release of Lumen Fidei, papal encyclical being prepared for the year of faith by Pope Benedict before his resignation, described as the "four-handed" encyclical because it was finished by Francis. Read a summary of the encyclical here. The document leads some to conclude that Francis' papacy will reflect continuity with Benedict. That hope is soon dashed.

• July 22-29, 2013: World Youth Day in Rio  sends a strong message of evangelization being the responsibility of all Catholics.  But using disposable plastic cups as ciboria? How were they purified and disposed of after Communion? Does this encourage the faithful to believe Christ is really present in the Eucharist?

• July 29, 2013: On the plane back from Brazil, Pope Francis asks "Who am I to judge?" Responding to a question about whether there is a "gay lobby" at the Vatican, he responds: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?" This is the first time a pope uses the political term "gay" with the assumption of a homosexual identity. This off-the-cuff throwaway line becomes the mantra of Catholics promoting the gay agenda and the "born gay" myth. His remark becomes standard fare at pride parades.

Franciscan Friars at Boston's gay pride parade, just one of many "Francis Effects" promoting homosexuality and the acceptance of their agenda in the Catholic Church.
[This link includes some indecent photos taken at pride parades.]

• September 12, 2013: Interview with Anthony Spadaro in La Civiltà Cattolica, the Italian Jesuit journal. The pope said the Church shouldn't be "obsessed" with abortion, contraception, and homosexuality. Here's a portion of the New York Times article:

• Six months into his papacy, Pope Francis sent shock waves through the Roman Catholic church on Thursday with the publication of his remarks that the church had grown “obsessed” with abortion, gay marriage and contraception, and that he had chosen not to talk about those issues despite recriminations from critics. His surprising comments came in a lengthy interview in which he criticized the church for putting dogma before love, and for prioritizing moral doctrines over serving the poor and marginalized. He articulated his vision of an inclusive church, a “home for all” — which is a striking contrast with his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, the doctrinal defender who envisioned a smaller, purer church. Francis told the interviewer, a fellow Jesuit: “It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time. The dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent. The church’s pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently. “We have to find a new balance,” the pope continued, “otherwise even the moral edifice of the church is likely to fall like a house of cards, losing the freshness and fragrance of the Gospel.”

The sodomy lobby immediately embraced the pope back in July when he made the infamous "Who am I to judge?" comment. In this interview he elaborated on that comment saying, "when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?" This, of course, confused the issue by identifying the "person" with his "behavior." This kind of confusion and, dare I say it, deceit is the hallmark of the Francis papacy. As a result, many of his statements become agitprop, i.e., political propaganda for the "gay" cabal. See how New Ways Ministry, the heretical "Catholic" gay advocacy group condemned by the Church, chortles over the pope. While I hate to link to them, their newsletter is enlightening and demonstrates the impact for evil Francis is having. Don't miss the list of "gay friendly" colleges and communities.

• October 1, 2013: Interview with Eugenio Scalfari who reported that Pope Francis says the most serious issues afflicting the world are youth unemployment and the loneliness of the old. This is only the first of several troubling interviews with  the atheist who doesn't record anything and depends on his memory. This interview is filled with troubling statements and ambiguities, which will come to be the hallmarks of Francis' papacy. Here is just one:

Your Holiness, is there is a single vision of the Good? And who decides what it is?"Each of us has a vision of good and of evil. We have to encourage people to move towards what they think is Good." 

Your Holiness, you wrote that in your letter to me. The conscience is autonomous, you said, and everyone must obey his conscience. I think that's one of the most courageous steps taken by a Pope."And I repeat it here. Everyone has his own idea of good and evil and must choose to follow the good and fight evil as he conceives them. That would be enough to make the world a better place."

Think about those statements and all the pro-abortion Democratic candidates and others who describe abortion as a good and condemn those, as enemies of God, who fight against it. Think of Pete Buttigieg who continually speaks in moral language claiming God approves of sodomy and murder of the innocent. And then read the pope's comment again. Do we "encourage people to move towards what they think is the Good?" Or do we encourage them to embrace God's truth of what is the good? Is it true that those who follow the good as they conceive it (abortion, assisted suicide, etc.) are making the world a better place?

• October 1, 2013: Cardinal McCarrick describes the conclave and how he was lobbied to support Bergoglio. He predicts that Francis will change the Church within five years. (Can anyone doubt that all of this was planned and orchestrated for years?) What could he do in McCarrick's words: "Reform the Church." He could "make the Church over again." That's certainly happening isn't it? And that's what the Pan Amazon synod plans. Some of this video is almost laughable. Consider what praise from McCarrick means. As my mom always said, "Birds of a feather flock together." And what, pray tell, does McCarrick know about holiness? He tells us Francis is a pastor. Ironically he compares him to the Pied Pipe of Hamlin. Francis plays his pipe and leads the flock away from the Church. Remember, in 2013 Francis knew about McCarrick's predations and did nothing about them while he paid lip service to dealing firmly with the scandals.

• October 8, 2013: Pope Francis calls for extraordinary synod on the family. To be held in October 2014, this will begin Francis' Church revolution by synod. According to the UK's Catholic Herald, "The announcement of the synod came amid news that the Archdiocese of Freiburg, Germany, had issued new guidelines making it easier for divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion." (Are you getting the picture?)

• November 24, 2013: Publication of Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. The document's economic aspects attacking free market economies raise controversy, particularly coming from a pope with a Latin American liberation theology background. Some critics describe the document as "pure Marxism". For a thoughtful reflection on the document's economic aspects go here. The author argues that there are almost no free market economies which Francis doesn't understand, and that state manipulation of economies as well as crony capitalism is a main part of the problem, and that Francis is looking to socialism to solve all the problems of the world. Vatican correspondent, Edward Pentin believes that Evangelii Gaudium is the key to understanding the Francis papacy.

• December 17, 2013: Pope Francis appoints Cardinal Donald Wuerl to the Congregation for Bishops, the Vatican department responsible for naming new bishops. Most recommendations from the Congregation are accepted. Consider the good ole boys' club of McCarrick, Wuerl, Farrell, Bransfield, etc. and you'll realize how significant this appointment was. 

• December 2013: TIME Magazine names pope "Person of the Year." The media love affair with Francis began when he stepped out on the balcony in March. TIME calls him the "people's pope" and, along with other media, praises him for attacking capitalism and bringing "change" to the Church that pleases "progressives."

Consider that when Pope Francis was elected many had high hopes, interpreting his actions as a great love for the poor and marginalized. We heard tales of his taking the bus and visiting his flock in Argentina, living simply, and being a man of humility and kindness who only cares about his flock.

Alas, the stories turned out in many cases to be just that -- stories. As this series progresses we'll see his iron will, his brutality toward critics, his condemnation and retaliation to the orthodox and his rewarding the heterodox. So many times we'll see him speak with a forked tongue saying something orthodox and then acting in a way totally opposite. At the beginning, in 2013 much of that was still hidden under the facade of the smiling "people's pope." As time goes on more and more we recognize the confusion and chaos he leaves in his wake wherever he goes.

Pray for Pope Francis and his Vatican minions. And remember Ronald Reagan's advice, "Trust, but verify."

To be continued....