SOCIAL media was abuzz on Sunday with leaked photographs depicting a man, said to be “Pope Emmanuel” Philbert London of Beacon Ministries, in pornographic mode with several females.The partially blurred but sexually explicit images, shared with a local television station, appeared on social media platform minutes after midnight on Saturday, and by Sunday morning, hundreds of Guyanese were ‘in tune’ with the images.

The images were initially taken down by Facebook after the first posting, but persons had already shared and saved the pictures, which re-appeared via dozens of “shares” throughout the day.

Repeated calls from this publication to several numbers provided for Pope London went unanswered, while persons at a posh home at the Pradoville housing scheme near Ogle, East Coast Demerara said he does not live there anymore.

IMAGES
In one of the partially blurred images, a man took a picture of his genitalia while posing in pastoral dress with a symbolic priestly emblem visible on his right bust.

Another depicted the man lying in bed with two females in the nude, one of whom was lying face down on his right shoulder while the other was on his left shoulder looking at the camera.

Yet another image depicted a woman lying face down on a man’s torso, while an image of a woman on the right arm of a man are depicted in another.

A man bearing the image of London is depicted in another image lying on his back on a bed, a partial smile of satisfaction plastered on his face while his hands are outstretched above his head.

The pictures were allegedly taken by London and his female companions, while reports suggest that videos of the sexual escapades were taped, allegedly by the ‘pontiff’.
Reports suggest the images were recorded at his home with the consent of all parties involved.

ABSENT
Outside London’s Miracle Centre on Joseph Pollydore Street in Lodge, Georgetown, several members of the congregation were huddling into groups when this publication visited after Sunday’s sermon to obtain comments from London.

He stayed away from the church, persons noted, and his papal gold chair at the altar was noticeably empty, one member of the congregation related. Photographs to this effect were also circulated during the morning.

Several elder ladies in laced hats moved away from the church’s entrance soon after this publication had visited. Persons near the church cautiously asked that this publication’s photographer avoid including them in images of the church, while heavily tinted cars rolled off from the entrance of the house of worship.

On Facebook, the word “Pope” was trending as hundreds of persons criticised London. Contrastingly, some persons defended the actions of the man with one-word answers of “Amen”.
London’s only response, which came through his “Pope Emmanuel” Facebook page, was a scripture reading: “Let them be put to shame and dishonour who seek and require my life; let them be turned back and confounded who plan my hurt,” he quoted from Psalms 35:4.

A volley of rebuttals followed as commentators bashed the ‘Pope’. One comment read: “You brought shame and dishonour with your wicked actions”; another said: “Why people are so surprised by this”; while others were simple in the typing of “Amen”.

Two pastors contacted by this publication offered not to comment on the matter or on any religious matter, but both men noted that London would have to provide answers to his congregation and God for whatever his actions may be.

Hailed as an “auspicious and historic event”, London was inaugurated in May this year at an investiture ceremony where Beacon Ministries called him “the first Black Pope in the Caribbean”. The investiture, held at the Ocean View Conference Centre, was attended by followers and well-wishers of the church, who sang praises and even danced to celebrate the achievement of His Highness, “Pope Emmanuel”. Formerly referred to as the Right Reverend Archbishop Philbert London, “the Messenger of God in Guyana”, London received his instruments of office later that day to much cheers from a happy gathering.
The speakers who took to the podium hailed London as a “great man”.

“Daniel has come!” shouted one. “Thanks to God, He made it happen!” another screamed. “God reigns over Guyana, and awesome things will happen!” yet another declared.

THE ‘GREAT HEALER’
According to his followers, London’s miracles include predicting the 2005 floods; the bombing of the twin towers; giving Guyana rains when droughts were predicted between 1994 and 2004; causing Hurricane Erika to turn into cool breeze over St Lucia in 1997; giving Guyana a righteous Government in 2015, and restoring the Garden City in 2015.

His followers noted, too, that London significantly and miraculously reduced domestic violence in 2015; caused a dent in suicide cases in 2015; caused persons to successfully obtain visas to the US; dismissed court cases; and ‘blessed’ barren women, causing them to get pregnant.

But those are not all of Pope London’s alleged miracles. He also helped a man, Brother Ivan, whose confidence had been deflated by his swollen testicles.

According to a booklet prepared by the Pope’s followers, Brother Ivan reportedly said, “I had to make a strap to keep around my waist and support my testicles in order to prevent the swelling from becoming visible to others; but three to four months ago, the strap became too small…. During July 2009, I heard Dr. London on his television programme ‘Revelation and Power’ advertise a free anointed cloth that could be used for whatever miracle you desire. I promptly phoned in for one.

“I received my cloth on 22nd of July. After applying the cloth, I experienced a fantastic thing! A hole appeared at the bottom of the swollen testicle, and I began to bleed! Thick bloody stuff began to pour out of the hole, enough I estimate to half-fill a five-gallon bucket! The swelling went down completely, and I am convinced that it was the anointing that created the hole and started my healing.”

This alleged miracle was certified by Bishop Cockfield and several others.