Pope Benedict XIV (1740-1758) on Rome as Babylon

In our article, we bring forward the evidence that the Whore of Babylon or Great Harlot prophesied in the Apocalypse is the Vatican II Counter Church.

Is the Vatican II sect the Whore of Babylon prophesied in the Apocalypse?

The Catholic Church is NOT the Whore of Babylon. Rather, the counterfeit Church of the Vatican II sect, which poses as the Catholic Church in the last days but is not, is the prophesied Whore of Babylon. Some apologists of the Vatican II Church have argued that Rome is not Babylon, but that “Babylon” (the city of seven hills) in the Apocalypse refers to Jerusalem. The following quote from Pope Benedict XIV confirms that they are incorrect. Rome is Babylon. Rome was sanctified by becoming the center of the true Church, but in the last days Rome (not the Catholic Church) will fall away from the Catholic faith and give way to a Counter Church which will persecute the saints. All of that is explained in the article; but here’s the quote:

Pope Benedict XIV, Address, May 5, 1749, speaking of a pilgrimage to Rome and the splendor of Christian Rome: “What could give a Christian greater joy than to see the glory of the cross of Christ shining with a more brilliant splendor than anywhere else on earth, and to testify with his own eyes to the glorious victory won by our Faith over the world? We see here how the greatest worldly power bows down in awe before religion and how what was once the earthly Babylon has been transformed into a new, heavenly city that instead of threatening to destroy whole peoples and subjugate nations with the force of arms and the tumult of war, sets before our eyes a heavenly doctrine and a spotless morality for the enlightenment and salvation of the nations. Here we see the former rule of superstitions buried in oblivion, while the pure worship of the true God and the majesty of divine service cast their radiant light in all directions; we see the sanctuaries of false gods razed to the ground, while the temples of God are hallowed by holy veneration; we can see here with our own eyes how the godless pastimes of the theatre and the insane spectacles of the circus have vanished from the memory of man and how instead of them the resting-places of the martyrs are thronged with visitors; how the monuments of tyrants lie prostrate in the dust, while the burial places of the Apostles, built by the hands of emperors, rear themselves aloft; how the precious works intended for the honoring of Roman pride are used for the embellishment of churches; how the memorials erected in thanksgiving to heathen deities for the subjugation of provinces, now, purged of their godless superstition, bear on their summits, with more right as the emblem of greater blessing, the victorious symbol of the unconquerable cross. Lastly, the sight of countless bands of the faithful who during the jubilee year pour into the Eternal City from all points of the compass will fill your hearts with joy, for each of you will find his own Faith shared by the members of many different nations, speaking different languages. With all of these you will be joined in brotherly love in the Lord, under the protection of our common Mother, the Church, and you will feel with joy how the dew of heavenly grace will be rained down on you more lavishly.” (Lugwig Pastor, History of the Popes, Vol. 35, pp. 328-329.)

Pope Benedict XIV clearly identifies Rome as the earthly Babylon, which has been sanctified by the presence of the true Church. And the Bible tells us that in the last days Babylon, which this pope identifies as Rome, will become the seat of an Antichrist spiritual deception against the true Church.   That’s why the Whore of Babylon only arises in the Apocalypse; for during the rest of Church history Rome is the center of Christ’s Church, the seat of the true popes.

In this quote, we also see references to the saints and martyrs, and to the fact that the Church is our Mother. The Apocalypse makes it very clear that the Whore of Babylon is prominently involved with offenses against the blood of the saints and martyrs. It also says that the Whore is the “mother of the fornications.” The point is that the Whore is specifically and clearly contrasted with Catholic Rome. That becomes quite clear when one compares and contrasts a quote like this about Rome to the biblical descriptions of the Whore of Babylon.   All of this further points us to the conclusion that the Whore of Babylon is indeed a Counter Church in Rome itself in the last days.

So, the defenders of the Vatican II sect, who think they are supporting the Catholic Church when they defend the apostate Vatican II Church, are quite deceived. And contrary to what the Protestants say, the Bible’s focus on Rome’s apostasy and spiritual deception in the last days only serves to further confirm that the Catholic Church is the true Church. For God is concerned with what’s happening to Rome and to His true faithful in the last days. The Devil’s assault is on the place which normally is the seat of the true Church (Rome).