The Pope's Troubles

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Aug 26, 1862

The Pope's Troubles.

The pope is somewhat sensible that he is in a critical situation, but like a timid boy going past a graveyard in a dark night, he tries to keep up good courage; while, at the same time, he startles at every new sight or sound. The 17th of last June was the anniversary of his election to the Pontificate. On that day there was an important gathering of Archbishops, Bishops, and Prelates, at the Sixtine Chapel, in Rome. The Catholic, when speaking of the meeting, says:—

“The Holy Father, in returning thanks, alluded to the difficulties and dangers which had surrounded and threatened the Papacy from the commencement of his reign; and said, with emotion, that the past obstacles and perils were as nothing in comparison with those which would soon have to be encountered.”

We think the dark hour for the Papacy is not far in the future, and that the Pope expressed the truth when he said, “The past obstacles and perils were as nothing in comparison with those which would soon have to be encountered.”—His is no enviable position.

The Catholic Mirror says:—

“The holy and beneficent high-priest of the Catholic Church has apparently all the powers of the earth against him; he is ruthlessly robbed of his possessions, and the world applauds the robberies; what remains of his temporal power is held apparently by a thread, which the Fates may cut at any moment. The powers of darkness rejoice; the gates of hell expect a speedy triumph. Open enemies without, and secret traitors within, the citadel, conspire to make the successor of Peter bite the dust.”

Truly, “his temporal power” hangs by a brittle thread, which must soon be broken for ever. The Mirror goes on to say—

“The enemies of the Holy Father have encompassed, and surrounded him with snares, while they keep him 'in his day of tribulation, menaced with overthrow, and half broken hearted.'”

It is evident that the “woman” on the seven hills must soon drink her “cup” “of sorrow.” Yet she tries to believe a brighter day will come, because she has arisen from former trials. She does not see that she has had her last triumph, and is protected by her last husband, who will soon leave her to the mercy of her enemies. Yet she still boasts.—“I sit a queen, and am no widow.”—Crisis.