Some Jews and dispensationalist Christians are working to revive an ancient ceremony that they see as a prophecy of the restoration of the Temple and the coming of the Messiah. Many Muslims see this as a threat to Al-Aqsa Mosque, which stands on the Temple Mount.

In Catholic tradition, the red heifer ceremony has meaning in that Jesus performed it in his passion and revealed God's character and the nature of God's salvific work, which flows through the heart of nature.

In scripture, the ceremony is found in Numbers 19. After the Israelites have escaped slavery in Egypt, wandered through the desert and received the Law at Sinai, they are preparing to enter the Holy Land when God gives Moses and Aaron this ceremony.

A red heifer — a female cow that has not borne a calf — is sacrificed to the east of the tabernacle outside the camp. Her blood is sprinkled seven times toward the tabernacle before she is burned in her entirety, with red cloth, hyssop and cedar tossed into the fire. The heifer's ashes are gathered, mixed with spring water, and sprinkled on the people to make clean those made impure by contact with death. Read more

The book was full of messages by the self-styled Italian "seer" Franca Miscio, who is better known as "Conchiglia".

According to Vatican Insider, Conchiglia claims to receive messages from God, Jesus and Mary.

Her "prophecies" describe the Vatican as "the centre of the global power that wants to create a single global religion uniting all false religions".

She claims Benedict's resignation resulted from the workings of international masonry and that Benedict is still the real and legitimate Pope.

Conchiglia defines Francis as a "wicked man seated at the Throne of Peter", an "imposter", an anti-Pope, a representative of the Anti-Christ.

Conchiglia also believes Mary should be added to the Trinity and that alien DNA has been mixed with human DNA for the purpose of world domination.

Italian bishops have warned against Conchiglia's writings, with one stating they are "objectively heretical".

The book came to be presented to Benedict after a man claiming to be a chief superintendent in the Italian police requested a meeting some time ago.

Benedict's personal secretary Archbishop Georg Ganswein said this was granted, and two men came and met Benedict.

But neither the archbishop nor the former Pope had any knowledge of the content of the book at the time of the meeting.

Photos of the presentation to the Pope Emeritus have been published on Conchiglia's website, where they are touted as a guarantee of the authenticity of her messages.

"Had Benedict XVI known that he was going to be given a collection of messages of this kind, he would never have agreed to the meeting," Archbishop Ganswein told Vatican Insider.

"When I got home I looked at the book and so did Benedict XVI later on," Archbishop Ganswein said.

"We were surprised and shocked because we noticed straight away that the book contained some ‘private revelations'.

"It didn't take long to work out that the whole thing was strange and incredible to say the least.

"The Pope Emeritus asked me to send the book to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith."

Sources

• Vatican Insider
• Catholic Herald
• Image: ABC News