Some information new to this website from the well-known Italian journalist, Andrea Cionci. Cionci wrote it a couple of years ago – the entire article can be read here. As readers of this site are aware, I am not wont to call Francis an anti-Pope or usurper: in my opinion he can inflict similar damage on the Church whether legitimately elected as Pope, or illegitimately. Cionci makes no secret of his opinion and has written an entire book on the subject – but that is not the theme of the present article.

Andrea Cionci has apparently held reservations about the devotion to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots for some time. He claims that it is based on an spell, known variously as the Witch’s Knot, Magic of the Nine Knots, or Magic Ladder. Cionci also says that it was Bergoglio who began to spread this devotion in the ’80’s. I can’t speak to that, but agree that the image shown here is quite bizarre.

The image, which is not a painting but a bas-relief, was presented to Pope Francis by the President of Argentina, Christina Fernandez de Kirchner, in 2015. Closeups of the image came from here and show some disturbing details.

For example, “Mary” is depicted with a bare shoulder: something never seen in images of the Most Holy Mother of God, who is the epitome of modesty. She is surrounded by five-pointed stars rather than the traditional six-pointed ones. The angel offends against decency & metaphysics: although angels are pure spirits and therefore without gender, this one is shown with bare breasts.

Cionci points out that the foot of “Mary” does not crush the serpent’s head, but is at best, not touching it, and at worse, caressing it. And as seen in the main photograph, the snake itself is tied in a knot.

According to Cionci, the snake-loving, anti-Mary figure resembles the occult figure, Lilith – these days a feminist icon of sexual domination and originally known in Jewish mysticism as the first wife of Adam. Lilith is often linked with the moon and is also associated with snakes. She is said to be responsible for inflicting illness or death on newborn babies. She is also associated with adultery and lust, showing another link with the “Witch’s Knot” which is tied to reproduction and fertility.

It is all very strange. And President Kirchner? After her meeting with the Pope, she exclaimed to the waiting journalists that she felt “illuminated from within” !!