Down on his Knees: Francis Kisses Feet of Four African Politicians

Bergoglio can’t kneel? My foot!

Down on his Knees:

Francis kisses Feet of four South Sudanese Politicians

Francis’ knees never cease to amaze. Whenever kneeling is required or suggested for the worship of God, the 82-year-old Jesuit from Buenos Aires usually has terrible problems bending his knees (cf. Rom 14:11; Phil 2:10). But somehow it’s only then.

Genuflecting after the “consecration” of the Novus Ordo worship service? Too difficult. Kneeling in adoration before what he claims to believe is Christ in the Blessed Sacrament? Can’t do it — get him a chair. Kneeling on a comfortable kneeler before the Monstrance during the procession for the Feast of Corpus Christi? Don’t be silly!

Whenever, however, kneeling has something to do with man, Jorge Bergoglio is the first to exhaust his physical abilities: Kneeling to wash the feet of as many as 12 people who belong to be a politically correct group? Not a problem! Kneeling to demonstrate before the media how he is humbly going to confession? Sure thing! Kneeling to receive a “blessing” from Protestant “charismatics”? But of course! Kneeling before “relics” of Anglican pseudo-martyrs? Bend them knees! Kneeling before the poor in veneration? That’s something everyone should do!

And now, Bergoglio has outdone himself again. As of today, Apr. 11, 2019, the world has seen him kneeling before four different politicians from South Sudan, each one separately, and kissing their feet before rolling cameras — Francis makes it possible! The people whose feet he kissed included Salva Kiir Mayardit, the current President of South Sudan. Have a look:

It is clear that Francis is indeed struggling with getting down on his knees, and/or getting up again afterwards. But here he demonstrates that he is quite capable if only he is willing to — and it’s not like he’d be lacking assistance from his staff at other times. In short: It’s a question of priority for him. When and before whom or what does this false pope care to kneel? Now we know!

As to the background of what happened in the Vatican today that puts this ultimate subservient gesture in context: Politicians of warring factions in the nation of South Sudan had just completed a two-day “spiritual retreat” in the Vatican given by — this is not a joke — the Anglican “Archbishop” of Canterbury, Justin Welby! The primary aim was to prevent war from breaking out in South Sudan.

On Apr. 9, the Vatican Press Office had released the following statement:

The Holy Father, Pope Francis, approved the proposal presented by the Archbishop of Canterbury, His Grace Justin Welby, to organize a spiritual retreat to take place in the Vatican, within the Domus Sanctae Marthae, from the 10-11 of this month of April, in which the highest civil and ecclesiastical authorities of South Sudan will participate.

Representing the civil authorities in the event, are the members of the Presidency of the Republic of South Sudan, who, under the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan, will assume positions of great national responsibility this coming 12 May: Mr. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic, as well as four of the five designated Vice Presidents: Mr. Riek Machar Teny Dhurgon, Mr. James Wani Igga, Mr. Taban Deng Gai and Ms. Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior. Representing the ecclesiastical authorities of the country, eight members of the South Sudan Council of Church will take part in the retreat. His Excellency, Archbishop John Baptist Odama, Archbishop of Gulu (Uganda), and the Reverend Father Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, S.J., President of the Conference of Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar, will provide the preaching during the retreat.

This event, both ecumenical and diplomatic at the same time, was organized by mutual agreement between the Secretariat of State and the Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the goal of offering on the part of the Church a propitious occasion for reflection and prayer, as well as an occasion for encounter and reconciliation, in a spirit of respect and trust, to those who in this moment have the mission and the responsibility to work for a future of peace and prosperity for the South Sudanese people.

The conclusion of the retreat will take place on the afternoon of Thursday, the 11th, when, at 5:00pm, the Holy Father will pronounce His discourse. Following that, those participating in the retreat will be given a Bible, signed by His Holiness Pope Francis, by His Grace Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, and by the Reverend John Chalmers, former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, with the message “Seek that which unites. Overcome that which divides”. At the end, the leaders of South Sudan, who will take up the common task for peace, will receive the blessing.

(Declaration of the interim director of the Holy See Press Office, Alessandro Gisotti, Vatican.va, Apr. 9, 2019; italics given.)

After the “retreat” with Mr. Welby, Francis gave a concluding address for those who had come for the event, the text of which is available here. The following video shows the concluding formalities, with Francis giving his address and then, at the very end, making his double genuflections before each of the four politicians and bending down to kiss their feet:

You can’t make this stuff up!

As for the involvement of the Anglicans: Francis has long had a love affair with Anglicanism, that false religion that began because King Henry VIII couldn’t obtain a marriage annulment from Pope Clement VII in the 16th century and hence pronounced himself the head of the “Church of England.”

The following links demonstrate just how far Francis’ embrace of Anglicanism goes:

• Francis: No Catholic Mass available? Just go to the Anglicans!
• Profanation in Rome: Anglican Liturgy celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica
• Francis receives “Blessing” from Anglican “Archbishop” of Canterbury
• Francis Greets Anglican-Pentecostal Layman as “My Brother Bishop”
• Upon his sudden death, Francis orders Anglican-Pentecosal Layman buried as “Catholic Bishop”, had told him NOT to convert to Catholicism

This is pure and unabashed Indifferentism.

The truly Catholic position on Anglicanism is beautifully expressed in these two important magisterial documents from the time when true Popes sat on the Chair of St. Peter:

• Pope Pius IX, Holy Office Letter to Certain Puseyite Anglicans (1865)
• Pope Leo XIII, Apostolic Letter Apostolicae Curae (1896) – on the invalidity of Anglican Ordinations

The evidence is clear: Francis is not a Catholic; and he worships man, not God.

Image source: youtube.com (Vatican Media; screenshot)
License: fair use