The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, though this does not imply an endorsement.

Pope John Paul II and Billy Graham, Pope Francis and Franklin Graham (Friday Church News Notes, April 25, 2025, www.wayoflife.orgfbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio) died on April 21 at age 88. Elected in 2013 at age 76, he was the latest man to perpetrate the myth of Peter’s supremacy, which was a major building block in the development of the apostate “church” prophesied in the New Testament (Mt. 13:33; 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 13; 4:3-4; 1 John 2:18-27; Revelation 17-18). By twisting Scripture like a nose of wax, the papacy falsely claims that Christ made Peter the rock upon which “the church” is built and gave him the keys of heaven and hell. Francis’ coat of arms featured the papal crown with its three-fold tiara signifying the pope’s authority over the earth and all rulers. Rome has a false gospel of salvation by faith plus works. The Second Vatican Council in the 1960s affirmed that salvation was given to Peter and the popes to distribute through the sacraments, beginning with baptism. “By the sacrament of Baptism … man becomes truly incorporated into the crucified and glorified Christ and is reborn to a sharing of the divine life” (Vatican II, “Decree on Ecumenism,” chap. 3, II, 22). Every false gospel of works is under God’s terrible curse (Galatians 1). A false gospel is a damnable heresy (2 Peter 2), meaning a heresy that damns the soul to eternal judgment. The Pope’s complete apostasy was further revealed in his “veneration of Mary” and his desire to be buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Inside the basilica is a statue of Mary as Queen of Peace; on the ceiling is a painting of Mary sitting in Christ’s throne being crowned Queen of Heaven; outside the church is a large crucifix with Jesus hanging on one side and Mary hanging on the other. According to Roman theology, Mary is sinless, ever virgin, ascended bodily to heaven, was crowned Queen of Heaven, is “co-redemptress” with Christ, and intercedes for sinners. This is blasphemous heresy. The Pope’s death is a window into the formation of the one world church in our day. President Trump ordered American flags to be flown at half mast. The Eiffel Tower went dark. World political leaders, including Trump, and world religious leaders will attend the papal funeral to honor this deceiver. Franklin Graham, one of the most prominent evangelicals, published a photo of him shaking hands with the Pope and said, “Pray for the Catholic Church as they begin the process of selecting the next pope.” Pray for the election of the pope? What blindness! We will listen in vain for prominent evangelical leaders to denounce Rome in plain biblical language. Franklin’s father, Billy, did more to promote ecumenical unity and build a one world church than any man in history. (For documentation, see the free eBooks Is the Roman Catholic Church Changing? and Billy Graham and the One World Church, www.wayoflife.org.)