Pope was investigating Knights Templar before his election


*** The new Pope, Benedict XVI, was actively investigating secret
societies including the Knights Templar and the Illuminati, it was
revealed yesterday. Details were exposed by a local newspaper in
Hertfordshire, England. Cardinal Ratzinger was head of the Inquisition,
the arm of the Church set up to investigate, persecute or eliminate
heretics. But the curious thing is, we now know that he started his
investigation shortly before he was elected as the new Pope. Did he
know something? He certainly made no secret of his ambition to become
Pope. ***

Pope's probe into Hertford's Templars

THE NEW POPE has reportedly made inquiries into a secret society in
Hertford, the Knights Templar.

He is thought to-have contacted a top Hertfordshire historian and a
records officer at County Hall in Hertford.

The inquiries follow the Templars' demand last December for a papal
apology by 2007 for their persecution by the Vatican almost 700 years
ago.

The demand - which the Vatican was said to be 'seriously
considering' - made international headlines after it was
exclusively revealed by the Mercury. The news also appeared in national
newspapers, including The Times, The Independent, and The Guardian.

Now we have received new information that Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
made the calls prior to his election as Pope Benedict XVI earlier this
month.

A source told the Mercury that the German cardinal contacted local
history expert Dr Alan Thompson at the University of Hertfordshire. The
anonymous source also pointed out that the Pope's homeland, Bavaria,
where he became a memeber of Hitler Youth, is also the homeland of a
mysterious secret society, the Illuminati.

After we asked him to confirm the claim, Dr Thompson said: "I was
contacted some time ago by a previous cardinal ... but I don't want to
talk any more about it."

Tim Acheson, a modern-day Templar, commented: "The professor may not
want to give anything away, but there is an important clue in his
reply. The 'previous cardinal' can only refer to one man -
Ratzinger."

In Dan Brown's best-selling novel about, Angels and Demons,  the
Illuminati takes revenge on the Vatican. Mr Acheson speculated,
"Ratzinger is on record suggesting that Freemasonry was set up to
persecute Christianity. Perhaps it is the revenge of the Templars that
the Church fears, since the origin of Freemasonry is rooted in the
persecution of the Templars by the Church."

Before he became Pope, Cardinal Ratzinger led the Vatican committee
once known as the 'Inquisition'. Among its roles is to consider
apologies to groups persecuted by the church.

Such groups include the Knights Templar, a secretive Order of warrior
monks who were persecuted by King Phillip IV of France and Pope Clement
V from October 13, 1307.

The Mercury's source also claimed that the cardinal contacted Herts
County Council's environmental records officer, Alison Tinneswood.

Ms Tinneswood would not comment this week and, seeking refuge in the
"Data Protection Act", a Herts County. Council spokesman refused to
confirm or deny that a member of staff had been contacted by the
Vatican.

A press officer for the Holy See pledged to look into the matter.

Mr Acheson observes an ironic historical connection between the
Templars and the name new Pope.

He added, cryptically: "The pontiff chose Benedict as his papal
title, a name with special significance for the Knights Templar. The
Rule of the Templars, which is like a code of conduct for the Order,
was originally known as the Rule of Benedict."


SOURCE

Hertfordshire Mercury, "Pope's probe into Hertford's Templars",
page 25, 29 April 2005.
http://www.herts-essex-news.co.uk/news/mercury/hertfordshire_mercury/
Archived: http://www.theinsider.org/mailing/article.asp?id=1149