A Request to Pope Francis to Return Temple Menorah And Other Temple Vessels Hidden in the Vatican

The Triumphal Arch of Titus showing the parade of Jewish captives
carrying the Golden Temple Menorah to Rome

Three years ago we sent a letter to the former Pope , Benedict XVI. In this letter we requested him to return all of the articles that the Romans robbed from the Second Holy Temple in Jerusalem, especially the golden seven-branched candelabra Temple Menorah. The Romans brought the Temple Menorah along with the other temple vessels to Rome. On the Roman Triumphal Arch of Titus that exists in Rome today, we can see the Jewish prisoners who were captured in Jerusalem carrying the seven-branched Temple Menorah and the additional holy vessels that the Romans robbed from the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. These vessels were put into the palace of the Roman Caesars and then later put in the Vatican, the continuation of the Roman Christian Caesars, especially after Constantine. For many years these vessels, including the Temple Menorah, were shown in the Vatican. Jewish travelers who visited the Vatican during the Middle Ages and even during the past few centuries personally saw these vessels along with the Temple Menorah inside the Vatican. Years ago, the temple vessels suddenly disappeared, and as we learned, they were hidden in the basement of the Vatican, especially after the foundation of the State of Israel in the year 1948. The papal authorities were afraid that Israel would build the Third Holy Temple and that the Israelis would ask the papal authorities to return the vessels so that they can be used in the rebuilt Holy Temple. After 1967, when the G‑d of Israel, together with the Israeli army, liberated the Holy Temple Mount and Jerusalem the possibility that Israel would issue a request to the Vatican to return the temple vessels became even more probable especially after the year 1990 when the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement prepared the cornerstone, weighing six and a half tons according to biblical law, and brought it to the southern gates of the Holy Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The cornerstone was to be laid on the location of the First and Second Holy Temples in order to begin the rebuilding of the Third Holy Temple. It was the first cornerstone ever prepared for the building of the Third Holy Temple since the destruction of the Second Holy Temple in the year 70 ce. This cornerstone, together with a second cornerstone, are currently sitting not far from the Holy Temple Mount and await the decision of the Israeli authorities to begin the rebuilding of the Holy Temple exactly as the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement is calling them to do with no delay! The Temple Faithful Movement continues her historical campaign and holy work with intensity in order to fulfill the expectations of the G‑d of Israel and His call to Israel to rebuild His House on the Holy Temple Mount during the days of our lifetime, which He calls the "last days" through the prophets Isaiah and Micah and other prophets of Israel:

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. And many people shall go and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the G—d of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths; for from Zion shall go forth Torah, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, and shall decide for many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war any more.... But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken it." (Isaiah 2:2-4, Micah 4:1-4)

In every event and march that the Faithful Movement conducts to the Holy Temple Mount, the chairman of the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement, Gershon Salomon, calls the Israeli parliament and government to build the Third Holy Temple with no delay and to immediately fulfill the expectations of the G‑d of Israel and to embrace the heritage of the generation of the destruction of the Second Holy Temple. The rebuilt Holy Temple of Almighty G‑d will answer all the prayers of all the generations since the days of destruction in 70 ce. G‑d is warning Israel and the entire world that never will there be peace in the Middle East and throughout the world until the Holy Temple is rebuilt and also that the Jewish State can and should exist only when the House of G‑d stands in Jerusalem in the midst of His people Israel and the entire world. This is a godly call to "our generation", the last days' generation and we are honored and privileged to be the generation who will fulfill the expectation of the G‑d of Israel and fulfill it in our lifetime.

The golden menorah

Today Gershon Salomon sent a letter to Pope Francis in the Vatican (see below) calling him to immediately return with no delay the golden Temple Menorah and all the other temple vessels that the Romans robbed from the Second Holy Temple in Jerusalem when they destroyed it. The same letter that we sent three years ago to Pope Benedict XVI was ignored, however Gershon Salomon is sending today this letter in the Name of the G‑d and people of Israel and the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement asking Pope Francis to return with no delay the Holy Temple Menorah along with all the other temple vessels.

Gershon will not stop his activities for this purpose until the vessels are safely and promptly returned to Jerusalem. If the request is ignored again, the Temple Faithful Movement will ask an international court to command them to do so. If it is necessary, we will go to the Vatican in order to meet the Pope face-to-face and ask him to send the vessels to Jerusalem with no delay and in this way to fulfill the expectations of the G‑d of Israel upon him. Such a decision and action accomplished by Pope Francis will be considered by the G‑d and people of Israel and the annals of history to be a supreme and great privilege. We are sure that G‑d will not allow much more time for the vessels to remain hidden in the Vatican and not returned to Jerusalem. In any case, we shall continue to share with you the developments concerning these critical activities. Hopefully they will be positive and the vessels will indeed be returned to Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Israel. Those who would also choose to send a personal request to Pope Francis to return the golden seven-branched Temple Menorah and all of the other temple vessels to Jerusalem, it would be very much appreciated. Pope Francis should know that the call to return the Holy Vessels to Jerusalem does not come only from Israel but also from the entire world.

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[Actual letter sent by the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement to the Pope]

August 9, 2015

Pope Francis
Apostolic Palace
Vatican City 00120

Re: The return of the Holy Temple Menorah, Vessels and Treasures to Jerusalem

Pope Francis,

A Call to Pope Francis from the G‑d and People of Israel to Return With No Delay the Holy Temple Menorah, Vessels and Treasures, that are presently located in the Vatican, to G‑d's People Israel in Jerusalem

The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement in Jerusalem, which is dedicated to the rebuilding of the Holy Third Temple on the Holy Temple Mount in Jerusalem during the lifetime of this generation that is now experiencing the prophetic end-time redemption of the People of Israel in the Promised Holy Land given by G‑d to Israel in an eternal covenant, is calling you to answer the call of the G‑d and People of Israel to return to the State of Israel, with no delay, the Jewish Temple Menorah and other Temple Vessels and Treasures that were taken away to Rome by the Romans in the year 70 ce after they destroyed the Holy Temple of G‑d in Jerusalem.

As you well know, in the year 70 ce the Roman Empire occupied Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the G‑d and People of Israel, and the Land of Israel. They destroyed the Holy Temple of the G‑d of Israel on the Holy Temple Mount in Jerusalem and demolished and burned the city of Jerusalem. They robbed and took away with them to Rome the seven-branched Holy Menorah and many other Holy Temple Vessels and Treasures used by the Jewish priesthood in the worship of the G‑d of Israel in the Holy Temple. Titus, who destroyed the Holy Temple and burned it, built his Triumphal Arch in Rome on which is depicted until today the Holy Menorah and other Temple Vessels carried to Rome by Jewish captives. Since this terrible event in the history of Israel and mankind, we know very well that the Menorah, the Vessels and the Treasures that were taken to Rome have remained in the vaults of the Vatican. Travelers and visitors to the Vatican throughout history have reported seeing them.

This is G‑d's timing to return these vessels to Israel, and you are called by the G‑d of Israel to return them with no delay to Jerusalem to be used in the Holy Third Temple that is soon to be rebuilt. Today the re-establishment of the Kingdom of G‑d and Israel by the G‑d of Israel is the most exciting fulfillment of G‑d's end-time prophecies and promises.

The climax of this prophetic time will be according to the Word of the G‑d of Israel with the rebuilding of His end-time Holy Temple on the Holy Temple Mount in Jerusalem soon, in our lifetime, exactly as all the prophets of Israel prophesied:

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. And many people shall go and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the G—d of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths; for from Zion shall go forth Torah, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And He shall judge among the nations, and shall decide for many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, nor shall they learn war any more.... But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken it." (Isaiah 2:2-4, Micah 4:1-4)

Israel is presently experiencing the fulfillment of all the last days and end-time redemptive promises of G‑d for His People Israel. The G‑d of Israel is rebuilding in these days, together with His Chosen People Israel, His Holy Kingdom in the Promised Holy Land that He gave to His People Israel in an eternal covenant. As we said before, the climax of this prophetic time is going to be the soon rebuilding of the Holy Temple of G‑d in Jerusalem by His People Israel exactly as it was prophesied by the prophets Isaiah, Micah and all the other prophets of Israel. The rebuilding of the Holy Temple of the G‑d of Israel by His People Israel will have a deep significance for all of mankind. Real peace for all the nations will come to pass only when Israel rebuilds G‑d's Holy Temple on the Holy Temple Mount in Jerusalem and fulfills the end-time call of G‑d given to His People Israel: "Build Me a temple and I will dwell among you" (Exodus 25:8).

It is the time for you to return the Holy Temple Menorah, the Vessels and the Treasures to Israel with no delay to be used in the Holy Temple of G‑d that is soon to be built. Cyrus, the ancient Persian King obeyed the call of G‑d during the time of the redemption of the Jewish people after the destruction of the First Holy Temple and he returned the vessels from the First Temple that Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, robbed when he destroyed the First Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the year 586 BCE. The G‑d of Israel blessed King Cyrus exactly as He promised to Abraham and his seed Israel: "I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you" (Genesis 12:3). King Cyrus was so blessed and appreciated by the G‑d of Israel for what he did that G‑d even called Cyrus, "my Machiach" (in Hebrew - 'my Anointed') (Isaiah 45:1-7). King Cyrus even encouraged the Jewish people to rebuild the House of G‑d in Jerusalem, he set them free from their captivity and he regathered them back to the Land of Israel (Ezra 1).

You are called by the G‑d of Israel to do what the great Emperor Cyrus did in his time and you will be blessed and deeply appreciated for this by the G‑d of Israel. More than this, it will be for you the greatest privilege and considered as a major historical deed that no other Pope before you had the privilege to accomplish.

You are called to appreciate the major godly redemptive event that is taking place in the Holy Land of Israel at this very special time in the history of Israel and all of mankind. The prophet Zechariah in his prophecy described word-by-word the exciting godly event that is presently taking place in Israel. In the midst of his prophetic words is the rebuilding of the Holy Temple of the G‑d of Israel in Jerusalem where the G‑d of Israel will dwell again in the midst of His People Israel:

"Again the word of the LORD of hosts came to me, saying, Thus says the LORD of hosts; I was zealous for Zion with great zeal, and I was zealous for her with a great fury. Thus says the LORD; I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called The city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, The holy mountain. Thus says the LORD of hosts; Old men and old women shall yet again dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for the fullness of days. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the LORD of hosts; If it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, it will also be marvelous in my eyes, says the LORD of hosts. Thus says the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; and I will bring them in, and they will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and they will be my people, and I will be their G‑d, in truth and righteousness. Thus says the LORD of hosts; Let your hands be strong, you that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, who spoke on the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, saying that the temple might be built....Thus says the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: and the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to entreat the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. And many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus says the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men out of all the languages of the nations shall take hold, and shall seize the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that G‑d is with you." (Zechariah 8:1-9, 20-23)

In the year 1990 the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement dedicated and anointed a foundation stone for the Holy Third Temple to begin the process of the rebuilding of the House of the G‑d of Israel on the Holy Temple Mount in Jerusalem and to fulfill the call of G‑d to His People Israel through the prophets Zechariah, Isaiah, Micah, Haggai and other prophets of Israel. This cornerstone was brought to Jerusalem during an exciting event and is waiting to be laid on the Holy Temple Mount through an historical decision by the Israeli Knesset and government in order to start the process of the rebuilding of the Holy Temple of G‑d. The Temple Mount Faithful Movement is conducting a public campaign in Israel and throughout the world to make the rebuilt Holy Temple of the G‑d of Israel on the Holy Temple Mount in Jerusalem a reality in the lifetime of our generation.

We look forward to you answering this call of the G‑d and People of Israel with no delay and to return the Holy Menorah, Vessels and Treasures of the Holy Temple of the G‑d of Israel that are presently in the Vatican, back to Jerusalem, the eternal capital of the G‑d and People of Israel, so that they can be used in the services of the priests of Israel in the Holy Third Temple that is soon to be rebuilt on the Holy Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The entire world is waiting for you to answer this call of the G‑d and People of Israel with no delay. All of mankind will appreciate this historical event.

We look forward to your prompt reply.

Sincerely in the Name of the G‑d of Israel,

Gershon Salomon
Chairman, The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement

In the Almighty G‑d of Israel We Trust!

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The Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement will continue with our godly campaign and holy work. We shall proceed intensively to serve the G‑d of Israel with all of our hearts and devotion to build His Holy Temple on the Holy Temple Mount in Jerusalem and to bring to pass all of His end-time prophetic plans for Israel and the entire world. And G‑d will be with us! Everyone is called to stand, encourage, help and support the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement in her holy campaign to bring to pass this major godly end-time vision in the lifetime of our generation together with our wonderful and devoted friends in Israel and all over the world.

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