There is a real security concern for Pope Francis in the Philippines over the next few days.

 

As some of you may know, I was supposed to be in Manila now for this event, as I know one of the organizers from there very well. But, as he and a delegation of 6 others were at the Vatican last week to prepare, the Filipino government was going to be very strict on who met the pope.

 

The last two times a pope visited there, there was an assassination attempt. One being in 1970, and the other 20 years ago when John Paul II visited. the latter plot was foiled a few days before the planned assassination, when there was a fire in an apartment, and all other units were evacuated, that is when the authorities found that in another unit, that had nothing to do with the fire, evidence of the then unknown plot.

 

They are expecting the largest gathering of Catholics this Sunday at a Mass next to Manila Bay, they expect over 6 million people. That will shatter the previous record Catholic crowd of 5 million, which was also in Manila, 20 years ago. Over 50,000 military will be on hand for these events. But if you know anything about the Philippines, Muslin extremist are gathering steam, in this country in which over 80% are Catholic.

 

Pope Francis was urged to allow extra security measurements to be put into place, but he refused. He will still ride in a Pope Mobile that only has a front windshield and no protection. all during this visit he will have long processions and waving the millions of people lining the streets.

 

As I was told last week, and now see on some protection sites online, that the U.S. and Israel reports that an attack might be planned in Manila. As some may know, the pope has the attention of ISIS.

 

If any extremist would harm the pope, all bets would be off, it would be a game changer. I remember when Benedict XVI went to Turkey a few years ago, Glen Beck was saying that even of you are not Catholic, you better pray nothing happens to him in Turkey, that if it did, things will escalate at the drop of a dime.

Then why is he going there?

Pope's always go on trips, and hold Masses where they go. He will be in the U.S. the end of this summer.

Then why is he going there?

 

I can't imagine there are many folks anywhere on this planet less afraid to me their maker. It's a pastoral visit and I imagine he'll continue to take them. He knows the Church is bigger than him and he'll do the things he believes Holy See ought to do.

Just realized I didn't spell Francis correctly in the title.....

Asked by reporters aboard the papal plane to Manila if he felt vulnerable to an assassination attempt or an attack:

 

"I am in God's hands," he said, joking about having asked God to spare him a painful death. "If anything should happen to me, I have told the Lord, I ask you only to give me the grace that it doesn't hurt because I am not courageous when confronted with pain. I am very timid."

Yeah, if there was ever an assassination that could lead to a wide-scale global nightmare it would be the pope.

When he was elected the Pope and started refusing the protected Pope Mobile and all, and after reading in executive protection publications of how far he refuses extra protection, I was wondering if he was "told" that he would be a martyr.

When he was elected the Pope and started refusing the protected Pope Mobile and all, and after reading in executive protection publications of how far he refuses extra protection, I was wondering if he was "told" that he would be a martyr.

 

Several Swiss Guards have quietly reported while they love Pope Francis, his directions that he have access to the people desipite the security issues causes worry for the Swiss Guard. One even said if we saw someone in the crowd who meant harm, it would be difficult to get to the pope and the possible assassin before the assassin could get to the pope.

 

I am trying to think of the last pope who was assassinated? I know a Bulgarian tried with JPII. Some conspiracy theorist wonder if John XXIII was. I just can't think of the last who was for sure assassinated. Napolean captured a pope and hulled him back to France (or was it a French territory?) and some historians assumed his plan was to execute him in a public manner but he must have had a change of heart and instead imprisoned him until the Austrian army (I think Austrian) defeated Napolean and released him. Ironically, when Napolean was captured, the pope asked for mercy for Napolean.

Ironically, when Napolean was captured, the pope asked for mercy for Napolean.

 

Sounds a lot like when John Paul II visited in prison the man who tried to kill him in 1981.

 

To answer your question, surprisingly few popes have been murdered. Now, a great many were martyred in the first 700 years after the Petecost, but none since then. There were murders during the especially dark and deeply corrupt years late in the first millennium of the Church. It's a remarkable thing that the Church survived the ninth and tenth centuries.

 

Since then, only rumors about men like John Paul I (since he died just 30 days after election) or a handful of others.

Edited January 16, 201511 yr by Getslow

Sounds a lot like when John Paul II visited in prison the man who tried to kill him in 1981..

 

It does.

 

To answer your question, surprisingly few popes have been murdered. Now, a great many were martyred in the first 700 years after the Petecost, but none since then. There were murders during the especially dark and deeply corrupt years late in the first millennium of the Church. It's a remarkable thing that the Church survived the ninth and tenth centuries..

 

The early Middle Ages were definitely not proud times for the church.

 

It is suprising more have not been killed. You would assume with 2000 years and 400+ popes, it would be almost inevitable. Divine intervention I guess.

 

Since then, only rumors about men like John Paul I (since he died just 30 days after election) or a handful of others.

 

I said Joh XXIII, I meant JPI, brain fart on my part.

I said Joh XXIII, I meant JPI, brain fart on my part.

 

I remember reading an article once about speculation regarding Pius XI. Apparently his doctor was the father of Mussolini's mistress and the dictator had no fondness for the pope's writings on social justice. Always seemed a bit of a stretch to me as Pius XI was more an academic than a pastor and was pontiff when Il Duce gave that area of old Rome over to the Church to form the independent state that would become Vatican City.