The Irish News reports that a Free Presbyterian minister recently came out and said that Pope Francis is “most certainly an antichrist.” Yep, not just suspicious or wrong on a few theological points—an antichrist. It sounds dramatic, even medieval, but this line of thinking has deep roots in a particular branch of Protestant theology. From the article:
A Free Presbyterian minister in Co Down has said that he makes no apology for stating that Pope Francis “was most certainly an antichrist”. Rev Daniel Henderson of Moneyslane Free Presbyterian Church made the comments during a sermon the day following the pontiff’s funeral in Rome. Advertising the sermon online – ‘Was Francis an antichrist?’ – the livestreamed service also took aim at other Protestant churches and King Charles for their “wishy-washy” statements of sympathy following the 88-year-old’s death last month. Rev Henderson, who is originally from Liverpool, told the congregation he was not against Catholics and that his own mother was a previous member of the church, but that he believed successive popes had led “millions” to hell. His main objection was the “blasphemous” belief of Catholics that the Pope is God’s representative on earth.
This whole “Pope as Antichrist” thing didn’t start last week. It actually goes way back to the Reformation. Martin Luther, John Calvin, and other big-name reformers thought the papacy itself—not necessarily each Pope was fulfilling biblical prophecies about a corrupt religious figure who sets himself up in opposition to Christ. So when Free Presbyterians repeat this today, they’re not making it up on the spot—they’re riffing on centuries of Protestant tradition.
The Free Presbyterian Church, founded by Ian Paisley in 1951 carries that torch. Paisley famously got himself booted from the European Parliament for yelling “I denounce you as the Antichrist!” at Pope John Paul II. Subtlety was not his strong suit.
There are a few key reasons Free Presbyterians see the Pope in this light:
- Papal Authority – The Pope claims to be the “Vicar of Christ on Earth.” For them, that’s basically saying, “I’m Christ’s stand-in,” which sounds a lot like the textbook definition of an antichrist—someone who tries to take Christ’s place.
- Bible Passages – They point to bits like 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 about a “man of sin” who exalts himself above God. They read that and go: “Ah, that’s the Pope!”
- Tradition vs. Scripture – Catholics have tradition and magisterial teaching alongside the Bible. Free Presbyterians are all about sola scriptura (Bible only), and they see anything extra as dodgy, or even deceptive.
- Church History – They’ll throw in the Inquisition, indulgences, and centuries of what they see as institutional abuse as supporting evidence. A theological rap sheet, if you will.
The Catholic Church, unsurprisingly, doesn’t agree. They do believe in an Antichrist, but he’s understood as a future individual who will appear at the end of time to lead people astray—a sort of anti-Messiah, not the head of the Church.
For Catholics, the Pope is the successor of Saint Peter, appointed to shepherd the Church, not to oppose Christ. Suggesting otherwise isn’t just wrong—it’s borderline offensive to them.
The idea of the Pope being the Antichrist isn’t mainstream anymore, even among most Protestants. Sure, it used to be all the rage in the 16th century, but nowadays most denominations have dialled that rhetoric way down. Interfaith dialogue, ecumenical partnerships, and a general vibe of “can we not fight like it’s 1555?” have shifted the tone.
Still, the Free Presbyterian view hangs on, especially in parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland, where theology and politics have been entangled for centuries. And let’s be honest—religion aside, calling someone the Antichrist is always going to grab headlines.
Whether you find this view shocking, outdated, or weirdly comforting for those who grew up in the the age of bible bashing, it’s a reminder of how deeply history and belief shape the way people see the world—and each other. We don’t have to agree with it, but it helps to understand where it’s coming from.
Managing Editor of Slugger O’Toole. I help to manage Slugger by taking care of the site as well as running our live events. My background is in business, marketing and IT. My politics tend towards middle-of-the-road pragmatism; I am not a member of any political party. When not stuck in front of a screen, I am a parkrun Run Director.
Discover more from Slugger O'Toole
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
