Picture it for a moment.
It is 1906. Rome, the Apostolic Palace, third floor.
Pope Pius X, formerly known as Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto and later to be canonized as a saint, is standing by his office window, staring into the distance. There is a lot on his mind besides the sweltering August heat.
Once again, he goes over the facts in his head. One of the most prominent Jesuit missionaries in Africa, Fr. Ferreira, has been caught red-handed participating in a pagan ritual with the natives he was supposed to convert. The evidence shows that he was a willing and active participant.
He knows what to do, he thinks to himself, before a knock on the door interrupts his train of thought.
“Enter,” he orders.
It is his Secretary of State and right-hand man, Cardinal Rafael Merry del Val.
“Holy Father, he is finally here. After months of letters and messengers, we managed to track him down. The culprit is in the hallway. Shall I bring him in?” asks a visibly tense del Val. After all, despite his holy character, he knows what this man, whom he admires so much, is about to do.
Pope Pius X takes his seat behind his desk, but then gets up again.
“Yes, send him in.”
Del Val leaves but shortly returns with the disgraced, pagan-worshipping Ferreira in tow. He nudges Ferreira toward the desk where Pope Pius X is standing before taking a step back toward the wall.
Ferreira cautiously moves closer to the Holy Pope, who has indicated that he must approach. He obliges Christ’s Vicar on earth. When he is within arm’s reach of the Pope, Pius X puts a hand on his shoulder.
There is an icy look in the Holy Pope’s eyes. To Ferreira, it feels as though he is staring into the darkness of his own wretched soul.
But then the Pope’s countenance changes, and a little smile forms at the corners of his mouth.
“My son, I am glad you came. In light of all that has happened, and after much consideration, I have decided to…” He hesitates and flashes del Val a knowing look.
“…to elevate you to archbishop.”
Yes. I know. This never happened. And even if history were to be repeated an infinite number of times, I am almost certain this little scene would never have played out featuring St. Pius X or any of the other holy preconciliar popes.
Fast-forward to August 2026.
It is August 13, at the opening of the Southern Macro-regional Meeting, “Intertwining Voices for Dignity,” which brings together representatives of Indigenous communities and social organizations from nine regions of southern Peru.
The gathering is partly being held in preparation for Leo XIV’s looming visit, but it is also connected to LGBTQ advocacy.
In video footage of the opening that later surfaces, an Andean ritual centered on Mother Earth, or Pachamama, can be seen taking place. Participants in the video are clearly given coca leaves and invited to place them, along with food, in bowls on the ground as part of an offering associated with traditional Andean pagan practices.
But there is more.
In the damning video evidence, Bishop Lizardo Estrada Herrera and Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu, an official of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and pontifical commissioner for the Sodalitium of Christian Life, can also be seen actively taking part in this wicked ritual.
Faithful Catholics are shocked and outraged. What will the “pope” do? Surely severe disciplinary measures, if not excommunication, await the culprits?
Two weeks have passed after the incident. Leo’s papal wrath should be coming down on Herrera any moment now...
…Except it doesn’t.
Prevost has just, on August 29, promoted Bishop Lizardo Estrada Herrera, OSA, by appointing him coadjutor archbishop of Cusco, placing him in line to become the next leader of the Peruvian archdiocese.
Yes, folks. Estrada, who has served as auxiliary bishop of Cusco since 2021 and is currently secretary general of the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM), will now hold the right of succession to the archdiocese.
The more wicked you are in the Synodal “Church”, the greater the reward.
Promoting LGBTQ ideology? You become a bishop. Participating in idolatry and pagan worship? Have a bishop’s miter.
As my mom always used to say, the devil takes care of his own.
Darkness now moves among us. Darkness now has an address. Darkness now has structure and hierarchy.
You can find it in Rome.
Reject it. Flee from it. Warn others.
