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Pope calls on faithful to ignore doomsday warnings for 21 December

Ding ding ding! It’s round one of Pope Benedict XVI versus the Mayan prophets of doom.

POPE BENEDICT XVI has called on Christians not to heed doomsday warnings that the world will end on 21 December.

During his weekly Angelus address from the window of his Vatican apartments on Saint Peter’s Square today, Benedict spoke of extracts from the bible which speak of “the sun and moon going out, the stars falling from the sky.”

Several films and documentaries have promoted the idea that the ancient Mayan calendar predicts that doomsday is next month, on 21 December, 2012.

But Benedict said that Jesus “does not describe the end of the world, and when he uses apocalyptic images, he is not acting the prophet.

“On the contrary, he wants to stop his disciples of every epoch from being curious over dates, forecasts, and wants to give them the key to… the right road to walk today and tomorrow to enter into the eternal life,” he added.

As many as 90,000 people are expected to attend a massive event in Guatemala City on December 21, just in case the world actually does end, while tour groups are promoting doomsday-themed getaways.

- © AFP, 2012

Explainer: Why the world isn’t going to end – an astronomer reveals all >

Read: Doomsday is when, again? The world will end in 2012, 2023, 2026… >

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    Mute Anthony Lang
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    Apr 25th 2015, 9:39 AM

    Compassion is a fine quality in a politician. Sincerity is admirable. There is sincerity and compassion in what Richard Boyd Barrett says.

    FFA needs a more compassionate and less dogmatic approach in Ireland.

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    Mute Kevin Higgins
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    Apr 25th 2015, 9:34 AM

    Fianna Fail / Sinn Fein and Fine Gael all reluctant to legislate for this. Only PBP and AAA pushing this issue. Socialist party more so many years back

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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    Apr 25th 2015, 1:13 PM

    Parish priest pump politics.

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    Mute Tommy Newman
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    Apr 25th 2015, 10:35 AM

    Good guy Richard.
    A true socialist.
    Not enough of those in this capitalist cesspit of despair.

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    Mute Joe
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    Apr 25th 2015, 3:38 PM

    You’re kidding, right? Misguided selfish loudmouth maybe but true socialist, no.

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    Mute Paul Carey
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    Apr 25th 2015, 9:35 PM

    There’s only so many votes he can milk this for, surely.

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    Mute von
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    Apr 25th 2015, 6:07 PM

    I think Mr Boyd Barrett is a god politician. Maybe i will vote for him in the GE i like him.

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    Mute von
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    Apr 25th 2015, 6:09 PM

    That should be good not god, that would be going too far.

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