Q: What is this article about?
A: This article discusses why three Popes, including Pope Francis and his predecessor, have recommended the dystopian novel “Lord of the World” by Robert Hugh Benson, believing it to be a prophetic depiction of our modern times.
Q: Why do Popes consider “Lord of the World” to be prophetic?
A: They see it as prophetic because it envisions a 21st-century world where Christianity has declined, secular humanism (or “Humanitarianism”) has taken over, and a charismatic global leader unites political and cultural elites, which they link to modern issues like secularism, relativism, and technology’s impact on humanity.
Q: What is “Lord of the World” about?
A: Written in 1907 by Father Robert Hugh Benson, the novel portrays a future where religion is under attack from technologically advanced secular elites, and despite the dominance of a godless society, the Catholic Church and the papacy manage to barely survive, setting up a central conflict.
Q: What insights does the novel offer, according to experts?
A: Author Kristen Van Uden Theriault notes that the novel, like other apocalyptic literature of its time, warns about unbridled technological advancement, collectivism, totalitarianism, and the dangers of allowing ideology to replace objective truth, much like St. John Henry Newman also cautioned against.
Q: How does the novel’s vision connect with today’s world?
A: Theriault finds the novel prescient in its predictions of an international governing body and institutionalized euthanasia, and deeply reflective of a godless society driven by pleasure, scientism, and a rejection of God, mirroring what she describes as a “culture of death” in our own century.
Why 3 Popes Say the Antichrist Novel ‘Lord of the World’ Predicted Our Times
