The European Observer article "Who will lead Europe in 2006?" by Peter Sain ley Berry, warns Europe is in desperate need of leadership and vision or faces disintegration:

"...what Europe does need, clearly, is leadership. Leadership that is capable of forging a transnational consensus and commanding respect among the electorates of member states...

But without such a coherent vision, whether it comes from a member state politician or from a European Parliamentarian, the European project risks falling victim to the vacuum that is its empty centre...

We can only hope that cometh the hour, cometh the man - or indeed woman - someone who will not only advocate reform but deliver it as well. Who indeed will succeed in drawing this sword from the stone? That is the real question for 2006."

Biblical prophecy, which is often history recorded in advance by our Great Creator God, the Superior and Supreme Being of the Universe (who far surpasses mortal capabilities), not only announces there will be a United States of Europe, the final revival of the so-called Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation as Herbert W. Armstrong warns within The United States and Britain in Prophecy, but gives us the details that it will be composed of both weak and strong elements that don't share the right chemistry to form a long lasting relationship, and that such a corrupt cohesion will thankfully last only 3 1/2 years (that will seem like an eternity).

The EU will ultimately consist of a core group, the top ten nations, who will serve as the nucleus the other member states circle their wagons around, especially when threatened by an Islamofascist leader and his confederation to the south.

Watch for the Bavarian pope to provide leadership and stack the EU deck in the Roman Catholic Church's favor. Expect Herr Ratzinger to get more lively about Europe's direction and exert undue influence to sway public opinion to support the Vatican's wannabe divine emperor to lead Europe. After all, the pope isn't merely a Church leader but a head of state: a politician.

The pope will powerfully back that man with lying signs and wonders, having the masses eating out of his hand, and proclaim such "miracles" are proof that Providence has chosen this hour to reveal such a man to save Europe and lead the world.

The pope will bring the EU body to life! The pope's political ally will revive what amounts to the Roman empire, and World War III will follow!