Maybe this is why so many people hang on to the idea that a pedophile protecting, pachamama honoring, heresy spewing freemason is the Vicar of Christ when he refuses to call himself the Vicar of Christ.

Yes, St. Paul calls it "the operation of error." It is a supernatural chastisement. People who don't care about the truth regarding the "Man of Sin" but, instead, "consent" to his iniquity will be denied the light of the Holy Spirit as their punishment. They will blindly follow him. It all there in 2 Thessalonians 2.

Anyone calling Bergoglio "the Holy Father" is on that path. God help them.

Are you standing with the Protestants in their charge that the Antichrist is the Pope or a future Pope?

Catholic Tradition says the Antichrist will NOT be a Pope. The Catholic Church, or Rome, will *never* be the seat of the Antichrist. That is 100% anti-Catholic Protestant heresy and error.

The Antichrist will rebuild the Temple (in Jerusalem) and give himself out as if he were God, demanding all to worship him.  He will work miracle-like preternatural prodigies by the power of satan. That does not describe the Catholic Church -- past, recent past, present, OR future.

A true Pope can never be the Antichrist. However, an Antipope will be the Antichrist. That is the primary cause of the "deception" warned about in 2 Thessalonians 2. Catholics would not be deceived by some random layman. Only an apparent (false not true) Pope will be able to lead the majority of Catholics astray.

From St. Francis of Assisi:
"not canonically elected" + "raised to the Pontificate" = Antipope


From 2 Thessalonians 2:


From St. Thomas Aquinas (https://aquinas.cc/la/en/~2Thess.C2.L1.n40):

But in what temple? Was it not destroyed by the Romans? This is why some say that the Antichrist is from the tribe of Dan, whose tribe is not named among the other twelve in Revelation (Rev 7:5). Because of this, the Jews will accept him at first, and will rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and thus Daniel will be fulfilled: an abomination and an idol will be in the temple (Dan 9:27). But when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place, let him who reads understand (Matt 24:15).

But some say that neither Jerusalem nor the temple will ever be rebuilt, but that their desolation will last until the final consummation. And even some Jews believe this. So this text is explained to mean in the temple of God, i.e., in the Church, since many from the church will accept him. Or according to Augustine, he sits in the temple of God, i.e., he rules and governs as though he himself with his messengers were the temple of God, as Christ is the temple with his adherents.

And Our Lady of La Salette said:

“Rome will lose the faith and become the seat of Antichrist.” – Selected excerpt taken from Our Lady of La Salette’s Secret to Mélanie Calvat on 19 September 1846. (Approved apparition) Final version published in 1879 at Lecce, Italy, with the imprimatur and approval of Bishop Salvatore Luigi Zola, C.R.L., the Bishop of Lecce

“Rome will lose the faith and become the seat of Antichrist.” – Selected excerpt taken from Our Lady of La Salette’s Secret to Mélanie Calvat on 19 September 1846. (Approved apparition) Final version published in 1879 at Lecce, Italy, with the imprimatur and approval of Bishop Salvatore Luigi Zola, C.R.L., the Bishop of Lecce

I don't know. I think I'd rather reject that quote at least as apocryphal, rather than "look to Rome, the official Catholic Church" for the Antichrist someday.

I have heard that quote criticized by devout Trad Catholics before. As a matter of fact, it was when I bandied it about personally, here on CathInfo. Someone came back with what I'm saying now -- and it stuck with me. I now side with that person in the debate.

I was taught the Protestants are anti-Catholic and evil when they call the Catholic Church "corrupted true Christianity with Roman pagan accretions", "the Whore of Babylon", "the Seat of the Antichrist" etc.

The Antichrist will be neither a Pope NOR A PUTATIVE POPE accepted as the Pope by 98% of the world's population. The physical, apparent CATHOLIC CHURCH will not be the abode or HQ of the Antichrist, as Sauron abodes in Mordor.

What's to stop us from running away, and cleaving to a protestant sect for doctrinal purity, original Christian purity sans Roman paganism, etc.?  I mean, not only are they apparently correct about the Catholic Church being the Antichrist, but they called it years ago! GOD FORBID.

I suppose it's a testament to the gravity and depth of the Crisis in the Church -- now in its 58th year at least -- that Trad Catholics are not only ready to believe in a Crisis in the Church, but that the Catholic Church could become the ACTUAL HQ OF THE ANTICHRIST, WITH THE POPE AS THE ANTICHRIST HIMSELF.

Read some Traditional Catholic, pre-Vatican II works on what Scripture and Catholic Tradition says about the Antichrist and the End Times. Spoiler alert: the Catholic Church will NOT be the Antichrist's vehicle, and the Antichrist will NOT be considered Pope by ANYONE, much less the majority of the world.

I have read such books, which is why I don't believe the Antichrist will be controlling the Catholic Church (or its corpse, physical structure, etc). He will persecute it, yes -- but that's it.

I don't know. I think I'd rather reject that quote at least as apocryphal, rather than "look to Rome, the official Catholic Church" for the Antichrist someday.

I have heard that quote criticized by devout Trad Catholics before. As a matter of fact, it was when I bandied it about personally, here on CathInfo. Someone came back with what I'm saying now -- and it stuck with me. I now side with that person in the debate.

I was taught the Protestants are anti-Catholic and evil when they call the Catholic Church "corrupted true Christianity with Roman pagan accretions", "the Whore of Babylon", "the Seat of the Antichrist" etc.

The Antichrist will be neither a Pope NOR A PUTATIVE POPE accepted as the Pope by 98% of the world's population. The physical, apparent CATHOLIC CHURCH will not be the abode or HQ of the Antichrist, as Sauron abodes in Mordor.

What's to stop us from running away, and cleaving to a protestant sect for doctrinal purity, original Christian purity sans Roman paganism, etc.?  I mean, not only are they apparently correct about the Catholic Church being the Antichrist, but they called it years ago! GOD FORBID.

Matthew, St. Thomas Aquinas provides the proper interpretation of 2 Thessalonians 2, which is in complete agreement with the La Salette quote. Regarding the reference to "the Temple of God," St. Thomas says (https://aquinas.cc/la/en/~2Thess.C2.L1.n40):

"So this text is explained to mean in the temple of God, i.e., in the Church, since many from the church will accept him..."

St. Thomas Aquinas is not a Protestant. He accepts the explanation that "the temple of God" referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2 is "the Church," that is, the Roman Catholic Church. But the person "seated" there will not be a true Pope. He will be an Antipope, an imposter, the False Prophet of the Apocalypse.

Matthew, St. Thomas Aquinas provides the proper interpretation of 2 Thessalonians 2, which is in complete agreement with the La Salette quote. Regarding the reference to "the Temple of God," St. Thomas says (https://aquinas.cc/la/en/~2Thess.C2.L1.n40):

St. Thomas Aquinas is not a Protestant. He accepts the explanation that "the temple of God" referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2 is "the Church," that is, the Roman Catholic Church. But the person "seated" there will not be a true Pope. He will be an Antipope, an imposter, the False Prophet of the Apocalypse.

No, he's not, but now you're cherry picking. Let's stick to your original quote please --

But in what temple? Was it not destroyed by the Romans? This is why some say that the Antichrist is from the tribe of Dan, whose tribe is not named among the other twelve in Revelation (Rev 7:5). Because of this, the Jews will accept him at first, and will rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, and thus Daniel will be fulfilled: an abomination and an idol will be in the temple (Dan 9:27). But when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place, let him who reads understand (Matt 24:15).

But some say that neither Jerusalem nor the temple will ever be rebuilt, but that their desolation will last until the final consummation. And even some Jews believe this. So this text is explained to mean in the temple of God, i.e., in the Church, since many from the church will accept him. Or according to Augustine, he sits in the temple of God, i.e., he rules and governs as though he himself with his messengers were the temple of God, as Christ is the temple with his adherents.

In other words, it's QUITE DISPUTED and there are DIFFERENT OPINIONS among theologians.

And the idea that the Antichrist (capital A) will wear white and be accepted as Pope by most of the world? That is an "opinio tolerata" at best. One that I utterly reject, personally.

By the way, even your worst, narrowest quote doesn't suggest the Antichrist will -- or even could -- APPEAR TO BE the Pope, according to St. Thomas. It just says "in the Church". And this part of the St. Thomas quote is only one interpretation out of many. A belief held by what percent? 1%? 2%?

He's more of an Antichrist than an Antipope.

Capital A, Ladislaus, really?

I must have missed the satanic prodigies he publicly worked -- or the part where he gave himself out in the Temple to be worshipped with the worship of latria (reserved for God alone).

Capital A, Ladislaus, really?

I must have missed the satanic prodigies he publicly worked -- or the part where he gave himself out in the Temple to be worshipped with the worship of latria (reserved for God alone).

These things haven't happened yet. But they will. Stay tuned.