You had written, "At both services the Priest told the congregation that 12-21-2012 was the end of the world."

Also, "However, now that the 'Pope' has supposedly confirmed this information, I am at a loss in understanding why now?"

Here is a link to a report about the Pope dismissing the December 21, 2012 doomsday teaching:

Pope Benedict dismisses doomsday theory that world will end on December 21st