One Year Anniversary of "Siamo in Guerra" -- Patriarchate Stands for Worldwide Catholic Tradition, Service to Others

By Jean DuBois

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 13 March 2021 (NRom)

Next month will be the one year anniversary of the papal encyclical Siamo in Guerra, in which His Holiness and Eminence the Archfather laid out a description of global war being waged by modernists, socialists, nationalists, and communists against Holy Mother the Catholic Church. The encyclical detailed mechanisms in which the coronavirus pandemic was being exploited to further that war against the church and against the people, placing countless people at risk. Below you can find the English translation of the encyclical and its original Italian text, and also a link for the recitation of the encyclical by His Holiness and Eminence.

Now that the pandemic appears to be in its final stages, it is clear that the war against the church rages on. The pandemic measures and restrictions, now entering their second year, have conditioned people to a so-called “new normal.” The great reset, as some economists and leaders have called it, is a tremendous shift from the values of traditional society, the values of the Catholic Church. Since the Anglican Patriarchate, Pontifical States (Stato Pontificio) represents not just the fullness of the traditional Catholic Faith, but the worldly side of the church as the sole temporal successor to St. Peter the Apostle, it has been very active and vocal over the past year in policy advice secure the rights of the Holy Church and of people. The modern Pontifical States are the historic representative of over 400 million people worldwide, which is a responsibility that the Stephenian Florentine-Roman Curia takes very seriously. The Patriarchate, its clergy, and its lay leaders are dedicated to service to those in need around the world, especially the most poor and vulnerable. The Patriarchate stands for the Catholic Faith as humanity continues through the second decade of the third millennium and beyond.

Siamo in Guerra

To all the Christian Faithful around the World:

Carissimi:

     We are truly at war, and this war is not against a virus, but it is the gates of hell against the Holy Church and against the ancient traditions of free society. In truth, this war is one of the most important wars in the history of the world, as we fight for the continuation of the freedom of the church over the world and for the continuation of our civilisation. We cannot doubt that this current fight is very difficult and will continue to be very difficult in the near future. How long it will remain, We do not know, and we cannot know. We do not need to think about this. We should only think of the final victory, a victory only possible through our Lord. Truly, dearest sons and daughters, you are soldiers in the Army of Christ. In this struggle, flags of nations are worth nothing, except only the sacred flag of our Lord and of the Holy Church.

     The forces of the devil in the world used the situation of the virus to establish a great confusion among the people of the world. Many people were afraid, and this fear was the instrument of the devil. The diabolical agents have exploited the situation to remove freedom, not only of the people, but also of the Holy Church. People were robbed and continue to be robbed of their dignity, their freedom, in a more forceful and more complete way than that of the Soviets, and also than that of the Nazis. Yes, it is a good work to save lives, but this situation is not in fact a choice of lives versus money, but lives versus lives. But the agents of the devil have caused many people to think that the real reason is to save lives. Those agents have used this to change the entirety of life, to change businesses, to change the whole of society, and also to change the rights of the Holy Church and the religious freedom of the people. The real reason, the only reason for the actions of most governments of the world is radically to change the true heart of the people and of society. They want society to abandon Christ and to abandon the ancient and sacred traditions in favour of a new socio-fascist world.

     In these days, the people are under the hands of the modernist states. Governments have forced companies to close, but for what crime? For none at all. Governments have chosen winners and losers in an arbitrary way. Governments have also forced a large section of the people under house arrest, but also for what crime? For no crime. It is a work still accomplished in a stronger and more complete way than the that of the Soviets, and also than that Enof the Nazis. Governments, I blame you for the diabolical crime. You do not care about the people under your protection.

     The protection of the people is a sacred charge under God, but governments have failed. The modernists against God, under the banner of saving a number of human lives from this new virus, in truth few in comparison with the population of the world, have endangered hundreds of millions of people in all places around the world – in danger of hunger, danger of deprivation, danger of health problems, danger of bankruptcy, lack of ability to provide for their families. How many of these are supposed to die to save others? Governments cannot say that these lives are worth more than those lives, for governments and government officials are not God. But now they play God. In truth these modernist states want to be God, and they want people to genuflect humbly to the civill government and only to the civil government. This is at the heart of this battle, this war. We cannot let governments replace God with themselves.

     The time is now! We must win for the glory of God! Now is the time when Christians must rise up against the modern forces of the devil! They are not new forces, but they are the same forces of all times in the history of the world. Our valiant ancestors fought against the same forces. Now it is our turn!

A tutti i Cristifideli nel Mondo:

Carissimi: 

     Siamo in guerra veramente, e questa guerra non è contro un virus, ma è le porte dell’inferno contro la Santa Chiesa e contro le tradizioni antiche della società libera. In verità questa guerra è una delle guerre le più importanti nella storia del mondo, poichè combattiamo per la continuazione della libertà della chiesa sul mondo e per la continuazione della nostra civiltà. Non possiamo avere dubiti che questa lotta adesso è molto dura e seguirà ad essere durissima nel prossimo futuro. Quanto tempo rimane Noi non sapiamo, e non possiamo saperlo. Di questa cosa non dobbiamo pensare. Solo dovremmo pensare dell’ultima vittoria, una vittoria solo possibile per nostro Signore. Veramente, Carissimi figli, voi siete soldati nell’esercito di Cristo. In questa lotta, le bandiere non valgono niente, eccetto solo la sacra bandiera di nostro Signore e della Santa Chiesa. 

     Le forze del diavolo nel mondo ha usato la situazione del virus stabilire una grande confusione nel popolo del mondo. Molta gente ha avuto paura, e questa paura fu il strumento del diavolo. Gli agenti diabolichi hanno sfruttato la situazione per rimuovere la libertà, non solo del popolo, ma anche della Santa Chiesa. La gente era rubata e continua essere rubata della sua dignità, della sua libertà, in un modo più forte e più completo del modo sovietico, e anche di quello dei nazisti. Sì, è un buon lavoro salvare le vite, ma questa situazione ancora non è una scelta di vite contro danari, ma vite contro vite. Ma gli agenti del diavolo hanno causato che molta gente pensa che la ragione veramente sia salvare le vite. Quelli agenti sfruttano questa per cambiare tutta la vita, tutte le ditte, tutta della società, ed anche i diritti della Santa Chiesa e la libertà religiosa del popolo. La ragione vera, l’unica ragione per gli azioni della maggior parte dei governi del mondo è cambiare radicalmente il vero cuore del popolo e di società. Vogliono che la società abbandone Cristo ed abbandone le tradizioni antiche e sacre e prenda un nuovo modo socio-fascisto. 

     In questi giorni il popolo è sotto la mano degli stati modernisti. I governi hanno forzato a chiudere le ditte, ma per qual delitto? Per niente. I governi hanno sceltato vincitori e perdenti in un modo arbitrario. Anche i governi hanno forzato una grande sezione della gente agli arresti domiciliari, ma anche per qual delitto? Per nessun delitto. È un’opera compita ancora in un modo più forte e più completo del modo sovietico, e anche di quello dei nazisti. Governi, vi accuso del delitto diabolico. Non vi importa la gente sotto la vostra protezione. 

     La protezione del popolo è un sacro incarico sotto Dio, ma i governi sono falliti. Loro modernisti contro Dio, sotto la bandiera del salvtataggio di qualche vite umane di questo nuovo virus, in verità pochi in confronto della populazione del mondo, hanno messo in pericolo al meno di centi di milioni di persone in tutti i luoghi del mondo – pericolo di fame, pericolo di privazione, percicolo di problemmi di salute, pericolo di bancarotta, di mancanza della capacità di provvedere alle loro famiglie. Quante di questi dovrebbero morire per salvare quelli? Non possono i governi dire che queste vite valono più di quelle vite, per i governi e gli ufficiali dei governi non sono Dio. Ma adesso giocano a Dio. In verità questi stati moderni vogliono essere Dio e vogliono che la gente genuflettersi umilmente al governo civile e solo al governo civile. Questa cosa è al cuore di questa battaglia, di questa guerra. Non possiamo lasciare che i governi sostituiscano Dio con loro stessi. 

     Il tempo è adesso. Dobbiamo vincere per la gloria di Dio. Adesso è il tempo nel cui i cristiani devono insorgere contro le forze moderne del diavolo. Non sono forze nuove, ma sono le stesse forze d’ogni tempo nella storia del mondo. Gli nostri antenati valorosi hanno combattuto contro le stesse forze. Adesso è tocca nostra. 

Reflections for the Third Week of Lent by His Holiness and Eminence

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 12 March 2021 (NRom)

Carissimi,

from the Gospel appointed for the mass for Wednesday the third week of Lent, we hear:

     “Hypocrites, well hath Isaias prophesied of you, saying: This people honoureth me with their lips: but their heart is far from me. And in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines and commandments of men.”

     So much do we see this in the world around us today. Yet let us not think that it is a modern phenomenon, lest we turn to idolizing the past. What our Lord spoke was almost 2000 years ago, and very little has changed since then. Indeed, Christ has been with us for almost two millennia, yet the people, surrounded by His wisdom and saving grace, still have not opened their hearts. 

     We must guard against being hypocrites, honouring God with our lips, but turning away with our hearts and minds. We must guard against vain worship. And, we must guard against what is so prevalent today, the twisting and bending of the Catholic faith not to the doctrines and commandments of God, but the doctrines and commandments of men. This by itself is not enough. We must speak against such hypocrisy, counseling and admonishing as we are called to do according to the Spiritual Acts of Mercy. However, given the ongoing nature and magnitude of the problem, we must also not allow ourselves to become discouraged if we think we are making but a little progress or even no progress at all. The coming celebration of the Resurrection reminds us of our eventual corporate victory in the fullness of God’s time through the victory of Christ over the grave.

     May Almighty God continue to bless each of you as you walk along your Lenten journey.

Archfather Speaks About Violence Against Asians in Europe and America

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 5 March 2021 (NRom)

Sua Santità ed Eminenza l'Arcipadre ha fatto la seguente dichiarazione riguardo agli attacchi in corso contro i popoli asiatici in Europa e in America. 

His Holiness and Eminence the Archfather made the following statement regarding ongoing attacks against Asian people in Europe and America. 

___________________

Carissimi, è con grande tristezza che Noi denunciamo i continui attacchi contro gli asiatici in tutto il mondo, che sono cresciuti di intensità nel corso del 2020 e continuano ancora oggi. Il razzismo in generale, non solo contro gli asiatici, è un problema globale di lunga data. La pandemia di COVID-19, considerand le apparenti origini geografiche del virus, ha purtroppo stimolato un drammatico aumento degli attacchi agli asiatici. Tali attacchi si verificano sia in Europa che nelle Americhe. La popolazione asiatica è stata brutalmente aggredita e persino uccisa. Le loro proprietà sono state spesso vandalizzate. Secondo un rapporto pubblicato dalle Nazioni Unite nel 2020, circa il 32% degli americani e il 60% degli asiatici americani hanno osservato persone asiatiche incolpate della pandemia di coronavirus. 

Non è giusto né semplicemente attribuire la colpa di una pandemia ai piedi di un particolare individuo semplicemente a causa della sua razza, etnia, colore della pelle, o origine nazionale. In effetti, tale violenza e altre azioni contro chiunque anche in circostanze generali dovute semplicemente a motivi di razza, etnia, colore della pelle, o origine nazionale sono un'offesa contro la comunione cristiana e un insulto a Dio. 

Esortiamo il popolo cristiano a testimoniare l'amore di Cristo per tutti gli uomini e a promuovere la sua rettitudine e giustizia qui sulla terra. Allo stesso modo, chiediamo al popolo cristiano di promuovere il perdono e la riconciliazione, per non ignorare le nostre mancanze, e non tentare di sostenerci per condannando le colpe degli altri.

ENGLISH TEXT: 

Carissimi, it is with great sadness that We report the ongoing attacks on Asian people around the world, which grew in intensity during 2020 and continues to this day. Racism in general, not only against Asians, is a long-standing global problem. The COVID-19 pandemic, given the apparent geographic origins of the disease, have unfortunately spurred a dramatic increase in attacks on Asians. Such attacks happen both in Europe and in the Americas. Asian people have been brutally attacked and even killed. Their property has often been vandalised. According to a report issued by the United Nations in 2020, approximately 32% of Americans and 60% of Asian Americans observed Asian people being blamed for the coronavirus pandemic. 

It is neither right nor just to lay blame for a pandemic at the feet of a particular individual simply because of their race, ethnicity, skin colour, or national origin. Indeed, such violence and other actions against anyone even in general circumstances due simply to reasons of race, ethnicity, skin colour, or national origin is an offense against Christian fellowship and an insult to God. 

We call on Christian people to witness to the love of Christ for all people and promote his righteousness and justice here on earth. Similarly, We call on the Christian people to promote forgiveness and reconciliation, lest we ignore our own failings and attempt to build ourselves up by condemning the faults of others.

Reflections for the Second Week of Lent by His Holiness and Eminence the Archfather

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 1 March 2021 (NRom)

Reflections for the Second Week of Lent
by 
His Holiness and Eminence the Archfather

Carissimi, 

in the epistle lesson for the second Sunday of Lent, the Apostle Paul gives several admonitions. Among those is that we should not overreach or circumvent our brother in business, for the Lord is the avenger thereof. In this present period in world history, it seems that the notion of leaving everyone alone to provide for themselves and their families has been lost as humanity turns further and further away from God. While it is absolutely true that neither communism or socialism in any form are compatible with the Christian faith, so also is it true that nationalism and excessive, extreme capitalism are likewise incompatible with the Christian faith.

We as Christians must not worship money or at the altar of commerce, for as our Lord tells us, no man may serve two masters. Money is indeed a tool to provide for the needs and even appropriate wants for ourselves and our families, and it is a tool to do good in the world. If we seek money for its own sake, corporate dominance as a purpose to itself, and ever-larger market shares, then we have lost our way as individuals and as a society. While appropriate competition can have many benefits, trying to put one’s competition out of business is plainly wrong. In some cases, survival indeed mandates a legitimate defence in commerce, just as we may legitimately protect our bodies. Yet, if we harm the body of another out of desire and not necessity, and we would not wish harm upon another if we could not find another way, even in defence of ourselves, then we sin against our brethren and against God. Similarly, if we do harm to others in business and in labour when it is not necessary in legitimate defence, or if it is necessary in legitimate defence, but we would not wish to find another way sincerely if it were possible, then we likewise sin against our fellow man and against God.

The rampant excesses of extreme capitalism in the Western world have reached new heights during the pandemic of last year that is now extending into the current year. Particularly due to government measures, massive corporations are making windfall gains, and others are going out of business, with so many people losing their businesses and the jobs, deprived of their rights to provide for their families. Indeed, depriving workers of their just wages is a sin rightly crying out to heaven for vengeance. What is being done to countless people around the world right now is just that. It was happening before, and the pandemic has made it dramatically worse. 

It is often said in excuse for this extreme capitalism that it is that very form of commerce and economic structure that has provided so many material benefits for society and even has furthered the ability to do so much good around the world. While there is indeed some truth to that, such benefits are not an excuse for wrong – and it is hardly true that such tactics are indeed necessary to generate benefits and to do good. Additionally, neither is the cure for extreme excessive forms of capitalism the evils of communism and socialism. These days, society is actually getting whiplash from bouncing back and forth between extremes.

To the Christian faithful who have their eyes open, the answer is very clear. It is only through the application of the faith of Christ that we may reach a free market economy that allows as many people as possible to have as much control as possible over their own financial future. Some may challenge this by saying that we can never achieve full independence in terms of the ability to provide for oneself and one’s family. Yet, that also is not even remotely an excuse for not employing appropriate, ethical, Christian principles to the economy as Christian people. This approach We propose is not another panacea such as those that so many revolutionaries from the 18th century to the present time have promised to justify their intolerable violence and the chaos they cause, only to have a new system that is no better and is even often worse than the one it replaced. Rather, this is the tried-and-true peaceful Way of Christ. That we may not achieve a full realisation of this does not in any way reduce the merit of trying to the best of our abilities.

Ethiopian Christian Massacred -- Archfather Comments

By Jean DuBois 

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 27 February 2021 (NRom) 

Late last November, many religious pilgrims arrived to the Maryam Dengelet church in Ethiopia for the Orthodox holy festival to mark the day on which many believe that the Ark of the Covenant was brought there from Jerusalem. This feast occurred during a lull in a period of much violence, yet what should have been a joyous and sacred occasion itself turned to bloodshed.

During the Orthodox liturgy, a unit of Eritrean soldiers opened fire on the church, killing many. Even those who are fleeing from the church came under fire. Then soldiers went door to door and killed and attacked many more in their homes. Even mourning the dead was banned by the soldiers under penalty of immediate summary execution.

Today, on almost the three month anniversary of the attack, the Archfather made a statement reflecting on the violence. His Holy Eminence stated that it is inconceivable that any just government could carry out or permit such an attack. The pontiff also called upon all such violence against the Christian people around the world to be stopped immediately. The audio recording of the statement is below.

Reflection for the First Week of Lent from His Holiness and Eminence the Archfather

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 26 February 2021 (NRom)

Reflection for the First Week of Lent
from His Holiness and Eminence the Archfather

Dear brethren, now in this first week of Lent, Americans lower their flags to half-staff for those who have died from COVID-19, and in our beloved Italy, the civil government continues to restrict the free movement of people. It is said in the United States that the death toll is above 500,000. Let us pause, then, to place all of this in perspective as Christian people. 

Consider that approximately 9 million people die each year around the world from starvation. Pause and reflect upon that – 9 million people dead from lack of food. That is worldwide, but it is a number on the order of 20 times more than the number of stated coronavirus deaths in the United States. Very few of those hunger deaths are in the United States, it seems, and thus the problem is so often ignored by Americans. Yet, starvation deaths are only part of the global food problem. Countless more people suffer from health problems stemming from hunger. These numbers were expected to increase dramatically as a result of the pandemic measures, even potentially doubling.

In the United States, currently the wealthiest nation in the world, 35 million people suffer from hunger. That is on the order of 10% of the population. That is inconceivable. 

Now, it is easy, it seems, for Americans to ignore the deaths from starvation since they are almost exclusively outside of American borders. Yet, as Christians we cannot ignore the plight of other people outside our borders, no matter the nationality. Keeping in mind the magnitude of such deaths around the world, which happened every year, not simply during a pandemic, helps to keep in perspective the mortality rate in the United States, Europe, and around the world by the novel coronavirus pandemic. That those pandemic deaths may not be in vain, We counsel that those advanced countries now reflect upon their own mortality and place themselves in solidarity with those in countries that suffer high death rates from starvation, disease, and other causes on an annual basis around the world. 

Also, bearing in mind, again, that starvation, malnutrition, and hunger are ongoing problems, why does the government of the United States and of the various states therein not attack it with the same degree of apparent enthusiasm, rigour, and seriousness with which it employs measures related to COVID-19? There is simply no excuse for a failure to address such a serious, ongoing, and both national and global problem. That is particularly true considering that the various coronavirus measures enacted around the world have disproportionately impacted the poor and vulnerable, i.e., those most at risk for death from starvation, hunger, and malnutrition, as well as other problems. There appears to be no comprehensive plan by the governments of the Western world to address that issue. Financial payments from the public treasury have been entirely insufficient. Meanwhile, certain companies are making massive windfall gains as a result of the measures. 

It is immoral and against the laws of God for any government to impose such measures that ask some to make massive sacrifices for others, particularly while a small subset of the population is reaping massive benefits. Governments that have claimed absolute authority and forced such sacrifices likewise have an absolute responsibility to make their victims completely and entirely whole. That can be done either out of the public treasury, spreading the cost thereby proportionately across a wide number of people in the taxpayer base, as well as by taxing the dramatic windfall gains made by some of the individuals and companies that are wealthy in the extreme. That is not socialist redistribution of wealth, but simple ethics and acceptance of responsibility on the part of the government. 

As we progress through Lent, therefore, let us all offer our own sacrifices and Lenten denials to the benefit not only of the poor souls in purgatory, but to those who are suffering on earth now – especially those who are in danger of death from starvation or mallet he from hunger. Let us work in peace to establish justice on earth.

Ash Wednesday Letter to Clergy from HHE the Archfather

FIRENZE-NUOVA ROMA 17 February 2021 (NRom)

A miei fratelli venerabili i vescovi, 
ed ad i miei carissimi figli il clero, 

To my venerable brothers the bishops,
and to my dearest sons the clergy, 

On this day begins Lent, a penitential and spiritual season. All are welcome in the Church of Christ, and you, venerable brothers and dear sons, have the responsibility to teach and work for the souls of the faithful. In these days, the world has many divisions – particularly political divisions. But, the church is, again, for everyone. So, this Lent We counsel each of you to leave political things in the past. Yes, certainly speak the truth of the faith and of the rights of the Church and the people, but only those things. Without that specific justification, let us not speak or share negative words about politics. This Lent, think only of Christ, of the sacraments, and of the souls of the people of the world. Again, truly the doors of the One, Holy, Apostolic, Catholic Church are open to everyone who desires to kneel before the Holy Cross of Christ. Cultivate the same feeling amongst your people. 

In questo giorno comincia quaresima, una stagione penitenziale e spirituale. Tutti sono benevenuti nella chiesa di Cristo, e voi, venerabili fratelli e carissima figli, avete la responsibilità di insegnare e lavorare per le anime dei fedeli. Il mondo ha molte divisioni in questi giorni – particolarmente divisioni politiche. Ma, la chiesa è, ancora, per tutti. Quindi, questa quaresima Noi vi consigliamo lasciare nel pasato le cose politiche. Sì, parlare della verità della fede e dei diritti della Chiesa e del popolo, ma solo quelle. Senza quella giustificazione particolare, non parlare e non condividere parole negative in merito della politica. Questa quaresima, pensare solo di Cristo, dei sacramenti, e delle anime del popolo del mondo. Ancora, in verità le porte dell’unica, santa, apostolica, chiesa cattolica sono aperte ad ogniuno chi vuole inginocchiarsi davanti alla Santa Croce di Cristo. Coltivare lo stesso sentimento tra il vostro popolo.

Rutherfordus Ap. I

Servant of the Servants of Christ