An invisible battle between good and evil unfolded at the Vatican in 1884 when Pope Leo XIII received a chilling warning from Satan about the future of humanity.
While celebrating Mass on October 13, the pope was walking towards the altar when he suddenly stopped and stood there for several minutes.
The congregation reported his face went pale and deeply disturbed, as if he were listening to something no one else could hear.
Later, Pope Leo confided to his aide he had heard two voices – one gentle, the other harsh – engaged in a conversation. He realized it was a dialogue between Jesus and Satan.
Jesus reportedly granted Satan a 100-year period of increased influence, during which he would be allowed to test humanity and attempt to destroy the Church.
Many Catholics interpret this to mean that the 20th century, with its two world wars, genocide, communism, moral collapse and spiritual confusion was when Satan exerted this special influence.
The religious group also believes humanity is currently living in the spiritual aftermath of Satan’s assault.
They point to a global decline in faith, the normalization of abortion, expanding acceptance of euthanasia and the rise of constant digital distraction as evidence.
An invisible battle between good and evil unfolded at the Vatican in 1884 when Pope Leo XIII received a chilling warning from Satan about the future of humanity
The vision is not officially documented by the Vatican, but it is widely accepted within Catholic tradition.
The primary account of Pope Leo XIII’s vision comes from anecdotes passed down by those close to him, particularly his private secretary, Monsignor Rinaldo Angeli.
Satan allegedly said, ‘I can destroy your Church, but I need more time and more power.’
Jesus then asked, ‘How much time and how much power?’ Satan replied, ‘One hundred years, and greater influence over those who will serve me.’
Jesus responded, ‘You have the time. You will have the power. Do with them what you will.’
Deeply shaken by the vision, Pope Leo XIII composed the Prayer to St Michael the Archangel, instructing it to be recited after every Mass.
The prayer calls on St Michael to protect the faithful ‘against the wickedness and snares of the devil.’
According to the account, the pope heard two voices, one harsh and one gentle, believed to be a conversation between Satan and Jesus. Satan asked for time and power to destroy the Church
Many Catholics and theologians believe that the 100 years following Pope Leo XIII’s vision represented a period during which Satan worked to undermine the Church.
Just 33 years later, in 1917, the Virgin Mary, known as Our Lady of Fatima, reportedly appeared to three shepherd children in Portugal, delivering urgent warnings about the future of humanity if it did not repent.
Her message foretold wars, persecution of Christians, moral decay and the rise of Communism, which would bring great suffering to the Church.
Notably, she is said to have warned, ‘Russia will spread her errors throughout the world.’
The Russian Revolution erupted just months after the final Fatima apparition in 1917, leading to the fall of the Russian Empire and the rise of the Soviet Union, a state founded on atheistic Communist principles.
Many theologians see the timing as deeply symbolic: 33 years is the age at which Christ was crucified, suggesting the Fatima apparitions were not coincidental but marked a pivotal moment in spiritual history.
Some believe 1917 marked the beginning of Satan’s 100-year reign, aligning with the Fatima messages that warned of an unprecedented spiritual battle and global upheaval.
Just 33 years later, in 1917, the Virgin Mary, known as Our Lady of Fatima, reportedly appeared to three shepherd children in Portugal, delivering urgent warnings about the future of humanity if it did not repent. L-R: Lucia dos Santos, Francisco Marto and Jacinta Marto
This period also saw the outbreak of the First World War, which claimed over 16million lives.
The Second World War followed, with an estimated death toll of up to 85million people, including more than six million Jews killed in the Holocaust.
These conflicts shattered the Christian moral foundations of many societies and accelerated the spread of atheistic ideologies like Communism and Nazism.
By the 1960s, the sexual revolution further reshaped global culture, leading to widespread redefinitions of sexuality, marriage and the family unit.
The normalization of contraception and abortion began to take root in the latter half of the 20th century, with the landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion in 1973.
The Catholic Church teaches that both contraception and abortion are gravely immoral, with contraception considered intrinsically evil, regardless of intent, and abortion viewed as a serious sin against the sanctity of life.
World War II (1939–1945) followed, with an estimated death toll of up to 85 million people, including more than six million Jews killed in the Holocaust
During the 1960s and 1970s, the divorce rate surged, which many believe was driven by the sexual revolution.
Once heavily stigmatized by the Church, divorce became increasingly normalized.
At the same time, television entered households on a massive scale, introducing secular ideologies that often conflicted with traditional Christian values, emphasizing individualism, relativism, and humanism.
In the 1990s, the rise of the Internet drastically changed society. While it expanded access to information, it also began to erode attention spans and deepen reliance on digital interaction over real-world relationships.
Theologians argue that these cultural shifts reflect a broader diabolical strategy to weaken humanity’s spiritual foundation.
By the time the iPhone launched in 2007, constant connectivity became the norm, accelerating the rise of social media and contributing to a noticeable decline in religious observance.
Data showed that US church attendance fell below 40 percent for the first time on record.
Simultaneously, mental health issues soared. Roughly one in five Americans now report struggles with conditions like anxiety and depression, further highlighting a culture of disconnection and unrest.
Many spiritual thinkers note that modern society has formed new idols, celebrities, influencers, and internet personalities, who shape public opinion more than faith leaders or moral traditions.
And the damage hasn’t been limited to the outside world.
From the 1980s through the 2000s, the Church itself was rocked by a series of sexual abuse scandals, many involving children, deeply shaking the faith of millions and severely damaging the Church’s credibility.
Internal debates have also intensified within the Vatican, particularly around complex issues such as marriage, divorce, sexuality, and the roles of women and LGBTQ individuals in the Church, further revealing divisions and confusion within the Body of Christ.
