“When in 1797, Pope Pius VI fell grievously ill, Napoleon gave orders that in the event of his death no successor should be elected to his office, and that the Papacy should be discontinued.EWP 11.2

“But the Pope recovered; the peace was soon broken; Berthier entered Rome on 10th February, 1798, and proclaimed a Republic. The aged Pontiff refused to violate his oath by recognizing it, and was hurried from prison to prison into France. Broken with fatigue and sorrows, he died ... [in] August, 1799, in the French fortress of Valence, aged 82 years. No wonder that half Europe thought Napoleon’s veto would be obeyed and that with the Pope the Papacy was dead.”—Joseph Rickaby, a Roman Catholic historian, quoted in SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 9, p. 703.EWP 11.3

b) Ellen G. White in 1884: “A day of great intellectual darkness has been shown to be favorable to the success of popery. It will yet be demonstrated that a day of great intellectual light is equally favorable for its success.EWP 11.4

“In the movements now in progress in this country to secure for the institutions and usages of the church the support of the State, Protestants are following in the steps of papists. Nay, more, they are opening the door for popery to regain in Protestant America the supremacy which she has lost in the Old World.”—The Spirit of Prophecy 4:390 (See The Great Controversy, 573).EWP 11.5

c) “Under one head—the papal power—the people will unite to oppose God in the person of His witnesses.”—Testimonies for the Church 7:182.EWP 12.1

d) Roman Catholics now easily elected to office in U.S., e.g., J. F. Kennedy and others.EWP 12.2

e) Pope John Paul’s visit to Chicago—“He’s got the whole world in his hands.”EWP 12.3

f) John Paul’s visit to England.EWP 12.4

“One of the most important drives toward reunification in the history of Christianity is being undertaken in Britain by Pope John Paul II.EWP 12.5

“From May 28 to June 2, the Pontiff was making the first trip by any reigning Pope to England, Scotland and Wales, where John Paul was hoping to help heal the historic rift between Anglicanism and the Roman Catholic Church.”—U. S. News and World Report, June 7, 1982.EWP 12.6

“Two months ago, delegates of Rome and Canterbury, representing twelve years of talks, released their final report and concluded that the old doctrinal feuds no longer provide grounds for continued division. In a joint declaration of astonishing unanimity, the delegates agreed that there is no reason in principle why Anglicans cannot unite with Catholics under the universal primacy of the Bishop of Rome. (The title of Pope was avoided.)EWP 12.7

“This document, though not solving all the problematic differences between the two churches, raised the prospect that ultimate reunification may be possible. If reunion could be achieved between Anglicans and Roman Catholics, the example would go far toward encouraging others to consider reunion possible in their cases as well.”—Time, June 7, 1982, p. 48.EWP 13.1

g) 1982-Great Britain and the Vatican established full diplomatic relations after a rift of 400 years.EWP 13.2

h) March 24, 1983-Gunnar Johan Liungdahl became first Swedish ambassador to the Holy See in over 450 years.EWP 13.3

i) January 10, 1984-US and Vatican establish full diplomatic relations.EWP 13.4

Appearance of Departed Friends

Unprecedented Warfare