By: Sam Doak
January 9 2024
This is a baseless claim originally made by a well-known fake news website.
Context
A screenshot of a headline concerning the catholic church and World Economic Forum is circulating widely on social media. Accompanied by a picture of Pope Francis, it reads, "Pope Francis Authorizes WEF To Rewrite 'Fact Checked' Holy Bible."
The World Economic Forum, an international non-governmental organization, has been at the heart of numerous conspiracy theorists over recent years, with many baselessly claiming that it covertly controls world events in pursuit of global domination.
Despite offering no substantiating details, the claim that the pope has authorized the World Economic Forum to rewrite the Bible has picked up traction on numerous social media platforms, including Instagram and X.
While some social media users appear to believe the veracity of this claim, Logically Facts has determined that it is not true.
In fact
A search for this headline reveals that it was published by The People’s Voice on December 24, 2023. A review of the article reveals that no evidence is offered by its author to substantiate their claims, beyond the citation of an unnamed purported "WEF insider."
The People’s Voice is a long-running disseminator of conspiracy theories. In response to false claims published on the site in July 2023, the BBC described how it operates as "an alternative name for YourNewsWire, which has been described by fact-checking organizations as one of the biggest producers of fake news on the internet."
A search of the Vatican's website and official social media accounts affiliated with the church revealed no mention of any plan to rewrite the Bible. Similarly, a search for news coverage concerning this claimed development reveals that no reputable news outlets have reported on the existence of any such plans.
Speaking to USA Today Yann Zopf, a spokesperson for the World Economic Forum denied the allegations contained within the People’s Voice article, stating, "I can confirm that these claims are fake."
The verdict
The only source for this claim is a website known to consistently spread false and misleading information, which does not offer any substantiating evidence. A search of official channels and news sites reveals no mention of any plan resembling the one outlined by The People’s Voice, and its existence has been refuted by a representative of the World Economic Forum. This claim has therefore been marked as false.