I am 73 years old and have lived under eight different popes. I even recall the news of the 1958 conclave. I was shocked when the first non-Italian pope in 450 years was elected in 1978. I was shocked at the assassination of JFK, RFK and MLK. I was pleasantly shocked by Ronald Reagan’s two landslides. I was shocked at the multiple heretical moves and musings of Pope Francis. But nothing prepared me for this: an American pope, from the diocese of my own birth, who was not on anyone’s radar screen as papabile. Give the College of Cardinals credit: they can still administer electro-shock treatments to the world.
We are going to likely have undignified insults traded between the White House and the Vatican. I hope Pope Leo will not respond in kind to Trump’s often childish musings. Pope Francis, who was quite practiced at snide and even crude insults, might have done so. But Trump would do better to allow VP Vance do the talking.
But this is a pope who has done the following:
— Openly criticized America’s efforts to control our own border, which flies in the face of the Church’s own teaching. And it is interference in the domestic politics of a sovereign nation. The Church’s role is to save souls. What about these millions of illegals, who have broken our laws?
— Ousted the most godly and humble bishop in America, Joseph Strickland, after he went “out of bounds” from his Texas diocese to picket the LA Dodgers. If you never heard of this, it is because the mainstream media buried it. Strickland, along with thousands of other Catholics, was protesting a vicious anti-Catholic parody that took place by the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence,” an LGBTQ mockfest, in a pre-game ceremony.
— During Covid, he approved the use of non-valid confessions over the telephone, despite clear Church teachings against this practice.
— He has been part of Pope Francis’ heretofore unheard of tactic, known as the “synodal magisterium.”
Now Leo’s first immediate gestures might – might – be a harbinger of a change of heart.
— He blessed the people, unlike Pope Francis, who asked the people to bless him.
— He wore the traditional red cape of a newly-chosen pope, the mozetta … unlike Francis.
— He chose the name of a long-suffering and traditionalist pope of the 19th century, Leo XIII.
— He has made strong statements on the sanctity of innocent human life.
If faithful Christians were praying for a good and holy pope, they might have one now. Yet they must now pile on and redouble their prayers.
There have been surprise conversions in the 267 popes, the most noteworthy being Pope Vigilius. He was an “Insider” currying the favor of Empress Theodora in the 500s. He maneuvered the exile and possible murder of the previous and very humble Pope Silverius, who excommunicated two influential bishops for adhering to the Monophysite heresy, a heresy which stated that Jesus was not fully human. If Theodora used her influence to elevate Vigilius to the papacy, he promised to restore the excommunicated heretic bishops.
So – the Empress got Vigilius into the Shoes of the Fisherman. To restore these bishops would be to endorse a heresy. Catholics — and all current Christian denominations – believe in the “hyperstatic union” – that Jesus is fully God and fully Man. Not a 50-50 thing. Not 90-10. He is 100% God and 100% human. This impossibility is what makes Truth a divine mystery.
Theodora waited. And waited. And waited. She wrote Vigilius, “Our dearest friend and pope” about why he was balking at restoring these Monophysite bishops. His reply of 538 AD, is justly famous:
Far be this from me, Lady Augusta; formerly I spoke wrongly and foolishly, but now I assuredly refuse to restore a man who is a heretic and under anathema. Though unworthy, I am vicar of Blessed Peter the Apostle, as were my predecessors, the most holy Agapetus and Silverius, who condemned him.
There is a church-approved prophesy that came out of, of all places, Akita, Japan in 1973. I have visited the miraculous statue, a wooden and Japanese-looking Virgin Mary, which shed tears. The Japanese respect all religions, and this miracle was broadcast on live television at the time.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
“The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres…churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises, and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.
This told accurately what would happen, and thus stands the Biblical test of authentic prophesy.
The news behind this man, Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, is too early. The Catholic Church just made an apparent hairpin turn to the Left. Let me emphasize “apparent.” If Leo wants to really make news, he could restore Bishop Strickland, who certainly was no heretic, but worried about a pope who was flirting with Church dogma like it was his own toy.
If faithful Christians were praying for a good and holy pope, they might have one now. Yet they must now pile on and redouble their prayers. Vigilius is not on the list of saintly popes, but if he made it into Heaven, we can ask him to add his own pleas to the Almighty.
But Peter and Paul are there, and Paul rightly corrected Peter in Galatians 2:11-14. Let us hope that we will have bishops and cardinals who will dare to do the same, if Leo goes the way of his predecessor.
Their fate, however, might become a newly minted word: Strickland-ized.
The views expressed here are those of the author.
6 Comments
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Can we imagine that this new pope chose his name, Leo, at random??? Nope! Pope Leo XIII (1878- 1903, the “golden age) in his encyclical “rerum novara” clearly proclaimed repeatedly that the State does not have the wisdom to treat the poor and downtrodden with equity thus the “church” must guide the State in making all decisions. The “church” must in all cases dictate right and wrong to the State. “Church” bishops/clergy must be involved in State decision making.
He stated “Americanism is anathema to the “church.”
(Correction to typos on my earlier Comment)
The points you make are the same as those made by John-Henry Westen of Lifesite News, which I originally thought was a Catholic website, but came to be sorely disappointed by him, as i am with the nasty tone of this article about our new Holy Father, Leo XIV, as well as toward President Trump and Pope Francis. The points you post, which he also made, are not accurate and foment division in the Church. Mr. Westen has a reputation for this….
https://www.threads.com/@veronica.winrod/post/C-87K4cJS_F
Let me offer some clarification:
All the USCCB Bishops, expressed solidarity with Pope Francis supporting legitimate refugees – not illegal aliens. The Pope never supports crime.
During Covid almost every church is the US had altered schedules and Vaccinations were recommended by the Government, so the Church did not protest, but did support the Right to individual religious exemptions. Within the exceptional circumstances of the Pandemic, including hospitalized Catholics in danger of dying, without access allowed to visitors, exceptions were made to the rule of Confessions needing to be face to face with a Priest, but only exceptional situations, not across the board, which is still invalid. As the Vatican said, we may think back to what Jesus said when His Apostles were accused of working on the Sabbath when gleaning food from fields. We must remember the Main Point of the Church – to Save Souls. If that is the only way to receive the Sacrament of Holy Confession then exceptions can be made.
Bishop Strickland, whom Bob Bird describes as the most “humble and godly bishop” was not disciplined for protesting the anti-Catholic mockery at the Football field. Bishop Strickland expressed on social media false interpretations of Pope Francis’ Teachings, such as Fiducia Supplicans, saying the Pope condoned “civil unions,” which was not true. The document was Not a “blessing of civil unions of same-sex couples” (as the Pope stated some weeks before issuing that document, “The Church does not – and cannot Bless Sin,” and which Pope Leo has already echoed). He accused the Pope of “undermining the Deposit of the Faith,” along with numerous other false criticisms. And, and on July 8, 2022, he reposted a video on Twitter which referred to Pope Francis as a “diabolically disoriented clown.” These are the tips of the iceberg of why he was disciplined.
With regard to Synodality, the Catholic Church has a history of being a Synodal Church – the first Synod is described in the 15th Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, the Council of Jerusalem, (40-50 AD) which met to discuss whether Gentiles needed to follow Mosaic Law (like being circumcized). Synodality is nothing new in the Church, and Faith and Morals cannot be changed.
But all of these are good headlines to grab people’s attention and try to stir division among Catholics…. as this article in Your mailing is doing. I also thought You had Alaska’s Best in mind. Perhaps You/Mr. Bird innocently believed Mr. JG Westen’s propaganda.
The best advice is, Pray for the Pope, then Wait and See. And keep in mind that he is the number one target for Satan, who has a far reach in the news media as our President has pointed out with the term, “Fake News.”
It is Jesus’ Church – against which the Gates of Hell shall not prevail,
established in 33 AD by Jesus Christ, and still here – with almost 1.5 Billion Members united with Him in Holy Communion in His Mystical Body: “Take and Eat. This is My Body.”
Mhj, I like your comment. It shows you have done your homework. Let me help you here. First of all “Americanism” by Catholic definition is not what we American citizens mean, such as “constitutional republic” or “majority rules”. Pope Leo XIII was condemning the notion that some American Catholics were trying to decide doctrine for themselves, and accept and reject doctrines, customs, and practices according to their own whims. Leo XIII emphasized that Catholics must obey the magisterial teachings of the Universal Church, which is a faith that does not alter its dogmas from nation to nation.
Secondly, having a church dictate right and wrong to any government seems SO un-American. But with 25,000+ denominations, which one is right regarding: homosexuality, transgenderism, abortion, contraception, slavery, IVF, minimum wage, strikes, unions, just or unjust war, etc? And most of them have changed their opinions since 1776! Example: on slavery, contraception, divorce. etc. The Catholic Church speaks on these issues. Governments are free to accept or reject the advice. But has the system of keeping the Church OUT of these issues peacefully resolved them? The question answers itself. The fear that the Catholic Church is trying to take over America is no longer there, even with an American pope. But our template of “separation of church and state” has morphed from refusing a nationwide tax-supported religion, to accepting Atheism as the TRUE official religion. Governments need a moral compass, even if they seldom follow it. But Emperor Theodosius threw himself at the feet of his archbishop, repenting after a mass slaughter of civilians (395 AD). King Henry II walked barefoot in sackcloth and ashes to Canterbury Cathedral after he ordered the murder of Thomas Becket (1175). Admittedly, the last pope was better named Pope Confusion, but that did NOT change the moral teachings, which will stand forever. Without the Church to teach us what they are, even well-meaning governments are left to their own guesses and self-interests. We would do well to allow religion classes in our public schools. Let each denomination pay their teachers, and let the students and their families choose. For those with no religion, then teach them courses in philosophy, Cicero, Marcus Aurelius, Zarathustra or Plato. Even they would be better than having Planned Parenthood in the schools!
As a former catholic. I can see according to scripture that it is religious organization that doesn’t know the Savior
Jesus established His Church – the Catholic Church – in 33 AD (Mt 16:18), and later the Church compiled and Canonized the Holy Bible. There were no other churches for over one thousand years until people started to break away and protest Teachings like, “Take and Ear. This is My Body.” ( Look up the newly authenticated Eucharistic Miracle in Kerala, India). His Church is still here as He said it would be. Please study it to understand it better.