I will be cautious in making assessments of the new Pope. But he does strike me as a man not haunted by his past. Pope Francis always struck me as a man who carried a lot of his past with him, and which motivated many of his actions. We shall see.
Pope Leo XIV
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
The most immediate effect he could have on this end is a return to the status quo ante, restoring the norms of Summorum Pontificum.
Josh is right. That’s all it would take. And while Pope Leo is at it, he could end the similarly spiteful and groundless persecution of contemplative religious orders by voiding his predecessor’s awful Cor Orans document.
The following link provides the homily that the Holy Father gave at yesterday’s installation Mass:
https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/homilies/2025/documents/20250518-inizio-pontificato.html
On the face of it, the homily is standard post Vatican II fare.
There is a kind mention of Pope Francis:
“The death of Pope Francis filled our hearts with sadness.”
But there is an oblique reference to the previous autocracy:
“Moreover, if the rock is Christ, Peter must shepherd the flock without ever yielding to the temptation to be an autocrat, lording it over those entrusted to him (cf. 1 Pet 5:3).”
There is the usual post modern call to diversity:
“On the contrary, he is called to serve the faith of his brothers and sisters, and to walk alongside them, for all of us are “living stones” (1 Pet 2:5), called through our baptism to build God’s house in fraternal communion, in the harmony of the Spirit, in the coexistence of diversity.”
There is the typical appeal to environmentalism and the poor:
“In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference, and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth’s resources and marginalises the poorest. “
And there is the exhortation to pan-religious ecumenism and peace on Earth by our own hands:
“This is the path to follow together, among ourselves but also with our sister Christian churches, with those who follow other religious paths, with those who are searching for God, with all women and men of good will, in order to build a new world where peace reigns!”
So as far as I am concerned, I will wait and see what really happens. Frankly, I question these calls for diversity, environmentalism, pan-religious ecumenism, etc. Therefore, we must pay careful attention and not let ourselves hope for too much as we did in the early days of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV’s predecessor.
Jorge Bergoglio had no business being the Roman Pontiff, or a cardinal archbishop, likely not even a priest. His formation, clerical and otherwise took place in a country that has been an insane asylum until Milei was elected. He hated the Tridentine Mass and all who wanted it and he hated the United States of America. That is not his complete enemies list.
It is obvious by his words and actions he cared little for the proper operation of the Curia, including getting the finances in order, or dealing with bad priests. Rupnik and the accusation from Archbishop Vigano are items of proof. He wasn’t much for evangelization. Pachamama, persecution of cloistered nuns and the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculata…..
I do not expect His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV, to set right all of the disasters Papa Bergoglio committed or allowed to happen. He will have his opponents in the Curia and among the cardinals and bishops of the world as well as the usual hostile media, entertainment and various governments. He needs daily prayers from all of us and whatever other support as is needed.
[…] and Punditry:A Pope Motivated by Malice – Donald R. McClarey, J.D., at The American CatholicWill Pope Leo XIV Reveal the Vatican’s […]
I will wait and see.
I desperately hope that, being a canon lawyer, any document from Leo will be well crafted, well considered, and beneficial to the body of Christ.
Such documents would take time, being the polar opposite of careless offhand remarks. Many pontiffs pontificated far less and did more good than the recently departed Francis. Perhaps we can return to such a model.
He’s Catholic and a Holy Father.
That’s enough for me.
Archbishop Paglia has been removed from his position as head of the Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute for the Sciences of Marriage and Family. That’s a good thing!
No word as to whether his homoerotic mural is still hanging in his cathedral.
And the last report on Marco Rupnik was that he remains a priest in good standing while living in a convent somewhere … that situation should have been immediately, and very publicly, addressed. Credibly accused priests are not supposed to remain in ministry while their investigation proceeds, let alone be allowed to live in the same building with potential victims.
Just my 2¢
Oh, by the way, I do want to say something good about Pope Leo XIV. He exercises regularly. So tonight, I am going to row another 10 kilometers and give the Holy Father my best! Get in shape, boys and girls. If the Pope can do it, then you and I can do it. 😉
Bad news … Apparently, Paglia is still in charge of the Pontifical Academy for Life … That’s a travesty.
Rupnik, wherever he is, must face quick justice. Enough is enough.
And his “art”? Gone. Removed & replaced with beautiful things.