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Residents of Sichuan province in China are stocking up on candles to prepare for darkness. A travel website reports increased searches for one-way tickets to the remote towns of Bugarach in southern France and Şirince in Turkey.
It’s all part of the panic generated by an ancient Mayan prediction interpreted to mean the world will end on December 21 — a possibility the Vatican’s chief astronomer says is “not worth debating”.
But for those who take it seriously, Bishop Bernardo Bastres Florence of Punto Arenas in Chile has a suggestion — leave your possessions and property to the Church.
“If people want to leave and go somewhere far from here, they would be doing us an enormous favour by leaving their possessions to the Church,” he said.
And he gave an assurance that after December 21 “we will pray for them eternally, because I am certain we will still be alive after that date”.
In the bishop’s own view, “this story about the world coming to an end is just drivel. I’m not in the least bit worried, my diary’s full until next year; if we die it’ll be God’s will.”
As doomsday scenarios based on the Mayan calendar flood the Internet ahead of the December 21 doomsday, rumours have spread among residents of Sichuan that three days of darkness will begin on that day.
“Many Catholics bring candles to me for blessing. I ask them why they buy so many,” said Father Benedict Yang of Neijiang parish.
The priest said he reminded them that their fears were unfounded, but that “Jesus never said when the time will come, and that we Christians need to be vigilant all the time”.
The attraction of the supposed safe haven of Bugarach in France is because it is believed to be the home of extraterrestrials who can escape earth in a UFO.
Şirince in Turkey, not far from Ephesus, has a different appeal. Some believe it is where the Virgin Mary was assumed into heaven. For those flocking to the town, a local businessman is selling a special “wine of the Apocalypse”.
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Image: End of the World 2012?
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