Father Ramon Guidetti, 48, of the Diocese of Livorno in Tuscany, marked the first anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s death by claiming that his successor is “a Jesuit Freemason,” which prompted applause from his congregation at his Church of San Ranieri in Guasticce, according to The Pillar.

During his homily, Guidetti referenced reports of lightning striking a statue of St. Peter on Dec. 17 at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary of St. Nicolás in the pope’s home province of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Earlier this week, a local journalist confirmed the unusual lightning strike to CatholicVote.org, noting that the bolt obliterated both the statue’s halo and the keys in its hand, despite the shrine’s many lightning rods.

The outlet said it “confirmed that the lightning episode has sparked concern and speculation in San Nicolás and Buenos Aires, especially since the shrine was turning 40 years old and many thought of 2023 as an emblematic year.”

Dec. 17 was Pope Francis’ 87th birthday and one day before the Vatican released “Fiducia supplicans,” which has caused an eruption of controversy among Catholic prelates worldwide for allowing “spontaneous pastoral blessing” for “same-sex couples” and other couples in “irregular situations.” The guidance noted that the blessing is not akin to marriage and that such relationships are still sinful.

“And what did [the lightning] go on to incinerate?” Guidetti asked during his homily. “The halo and the keys. The halo because Peter is no longer holy because there is a Jesuit Freemason linked to world powers, an antipope usurper. And the keys because the good Benedict kept those.”

Guidetti went on to claim that Pope Francis has not been the legitimate pope for the past decade, according to Catholic News Agency.

Jesus warned us that before His second coming one of the significant signs would be apostasy and a great falling away in the church. This Pope along with most of the Denominational churches have compromised with the world on gay marriage and acceptance of homosexual pastors and church leaders.