Habemus Papam!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is fascinating:

https://bsky.app/profile/reichlinmelnick.bsky.social/post/3looh2t6zhc2e

Text in case the link doesn't work:

"The new Pope didn't tweet once in 2024. In 2025, he's posted 5 times, in which he:

- Criticized JD Vance's views on Catholicism and Jesus
- Posted an article opposing Trump's immigration policies
- Retweeted twice about the Pope's health
- Retweeted a criticism of Trump & Bukele's laughter at KAG."

It is very hard to view this as unintentional. The first pope born in the United States selected. He's vocally criticized both Trump and Vance in the last three months after being entirely silent prior to that and not posting about a single other political issue in that time. One of the last acts of Pope Francis, who was very close to Pope Leo in life, was to meet with Vance. AND don't forget that the meeting between Trump and Zelensky that precipitated the US suddenly getting much tougher with Russia literally occurred at Pope Francis's funeral, in the Vatican. The chairs were placed by bishops or cardinals (I can't remember which!).

There is a message being sent here.

I agree, and I think part of the message may be bringing the rogue wing of the US church to heel. He has been so quiet that I think he will have some surprises in store for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is fascinating:

https://bsky.app/profile/reichlinmelnick.bsky.social/post/3looh2t6zhc2e

Text in case the link doesn't work:

"The new Pope didn't tweet once in 2024. In 2025, he's posted 5 times, in which he:

- Criticized JD Vance's views on Catholicism and Jesus
- Posted an article opposing Trump's immigration policies
- Retweeted twice about the Pope's health
- Retweeted a criticism of Trump & Bukele's laughter at KAG."

It is very hard to view this as unintentional. The first pope born in the United States selected. He's vocally criticized both Trump and Vance in the last three months after being entirely silent prior to that and not posting about a single other political issue in that time. One of the last acts of Pope Francis, who was very close to Pope Leo in life, was to meet with Vance. AND don't forget that the meeting between Trump and Zelensky that precipitated the US suddenly getting much tougher with Russia literally occurred at Pope Francis's funeral, in the Vatican. The chairs were placed by bishops or cardinals (I can't remember which!).

There is a message being sent here.

The message is that he's a savvy politician who understood an American who supported the Trump administration had exactly zero chance of being elected pope. He knew very well he was 'papabile' and had a particular strategy going into the conclave, which was successful. Fine with me, all for the greater good to have a synodalist committed to human rights in that position.

The message is that he's a Peruvian national who genuinely detests Trump's immigration policies. No need to try to twist him into Machiavelli, that's just dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is fascinating:

https://bsky.app/profile/reichlinmelnick.bsky.social/post/3looh2t6zhc2e

Text in case the link doesn't work:

"The new Pope didn't tweet once in 2024. In 2025, he's posted 5 times, in which he:

- Criticized JD Vance's views on Catholicism and Jesus
- Posted an article opposing Trump's immigration policies
- Retweeted twice about the Pope's health
- Retweeted a criticism of Trump & Bukele's laughter at KAG."

It is very hard to view this as unintentional. The first pope born in the United States selected. He's vocally criticized both Trump and Vance in the last three months after being entirely silent prior to that and not posting about a single other political issue in that time. One of the last acts of Pope Francis, who was very close to Pope Leo in life, was to meet with Vance. AND don't forget that the meeting between Trump and Zelensky that precipitated the US suddenly getting much tougher with Russia literally occurred at Pope Francis's funeral, in the Vatican. The chairs were placed by bishops or cardinals (I can't remember which!).

There is a message being sent here.

I don't disagree, but to be fair, everyone had plenty of criticism to direct at His Smugness JD Vance, who was plucked from relative obscurity to become VP and now thinks he knows better than everyone else about Catholicism and geopolitics. Aside from his little coterie of smug friends, I don't think any Catholics respect him one little bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So to those who say he’s a liberal, what about this?

https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/05/08/pope-robert-prevost-lgbt/

Liberal in the Catholic Church still means pretty right wing on many issues.

The child sexual abuse scandal should have toppled the whole thing. It's disgusting and egregious they try to lecture ANYONE about how to live a pious life while harboring such villains. Pass on all of it.

They just won't deal with it. They won't really ever. And it happened all over the world. It's a huge stain on the church.

Let me start by saying that I think every priest (Catholic and other religions - Catholic priests have received the most media attention but the crimes have been widespread) who abused children, protected an abuser, or moved an abuser to a different parish should be in jail. All of them.

I had never heard of Pope Leo before today. I asked Gemini about this and here's the answer:

Past Allegations: Questions were raised about his handling of abuse allegations in his former Diocese of Chiclayo, where two priests were accused of molesting young girls. Some accusers claimed he failed to properly investigate and covered up for the accused, but the diocese denies this, stating he followed proper procedures. He reportedly opened an initial canonical investigation and encouraged the victims to go to civil authorities.

Earlier Case: During his time as provincial of the Augustinian Province of Chicago (1999-2001), a priest convicted of sexual abuse of minors was allowed to stay at an Augustinian priory near an elementary school. Supporters say Prevost never authorized that situation, the priest was not an Augustinian, and it occurred before the Dallas Charter.

Oh so the church says it was all fine. Good enough for me! /s. Catholics allowed them to abuse their children and cover it up. There’s no moral standing at all. That there are no Cardinals without the stain should be unacceptable. Not only did they cover it up but they use YOUR money to keep them hidden and in comfort in their retirement. They actively destroyed lives, but like “oh he supports migrants or LGBT ppl”! The cognitive dissonance must be deafening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is fascinating:

https://bsky.app/profile/reichlinmelnick.bsky.social/post/3looh2t6zhc2e

Text in case the link doesn't work:

"The new Pope didn't tweet once in 2024. In 2025, he's posted 5 times, in which he:

- Criticized JD Vance's views on Catholicism and Jesus
- Posted an article opposing Trump's immigration policies
- Retweeted twice about the Pope's health
- Retweeted a criticism of Trump & Bukele's laughter at KAG."

It is very hard to view this as unintentional. The first pope born in the United States selected. He's vocally criticized both Trump and Vance in the last three months after being entirely silent prior to that and not posting about a single other political issue in that time. One of the last acts of Pope Francis, who was very close to Pope Leo in life, was to meet with Vance. AND don't forget that the meeting between Trump and Zelensky that precipitated the US suddenly getting much tougher with Russia literally occurred at Pope Francis's funeral, in the Vatican. The chairs were placed by bishops or cardinals (I can't remember which!).

There is a message being sent here.

The message is that he's a savvy politician who understood an American who supported the Trump administration had exactly zero chance of being elected pope. He knew very well he was 'papabile' and had a particular strategy going into the conclave, which was successful. Fine with me, all for the greater good to have a synodalist committed to human rights in that position.

The message is that he's a Peruvian national who genuinely detests Trump's immigration policies. No need to try to twist him into Machiavelli, that's just dumb.

Both things can be true.

[Anonymous]

I went and looked at the balcony videos of JPII, Benedict, and Francis and I could see the most real and raw emotion from Leo. I will take that as a good sign.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is fascinating:

https://bsky.app/profile/reichlinmelnick.bsky.social/post/3looh2t6zhc2e

Text in case the link doesn't work:

"The new Pope didn't tweet once in 2024. In 2025, he's posted 5 times, in which he:

- Criticized JD Vance's views on Catholicism and Jesus
- Posted an article opposing Trump's immigration policies
- Retweeted twice about the Pope's health
- Retweeted a criticism of Trump & Bukele's laughter at KAG."

It is very hard to view this as unintentional. The first pope born in the United States selected. He's vocally criticized both Trump and Vance in the last three months after being entirely silent prior to that and not posting about a single other political issue in that time. One of the last acts of Pope Francis, who was very close to Pope Leo in life, was to meet with Vance. AND don't forget that the meeting between Trump and Zelensky that precipitated the US suddenly getting much tougher with Russia literally occurred at Pope Francis's funeral, in the Vatican. The chairs were placed by bishops or cardinals (I can't remember which!).

There is a message being sent here.

The message is that he's a savvy politician who understood an American who supported the Trump administration had exactly zero chance of being elected pope. He knew very well he was 'papabile' and had a particular strategy going into the conclave, which was successful. Fine with me, all for the greater good to have a synodalist committed to human rights in that position.

The message is that he's a Peruvian national who genuinely detests Trump's immigration policies. No need to try to twist him into Machiavelli, that's just dumb.

Both things can be true.

+1 Vatican politics is a viper's nest. You need to be quite adroit to ascend the ranks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^
Except I sort of hope the conclave thinks the world is bigger than our country, much as I love America.

Clearly, but we're having a huge (negative) impact on the world right now, and Vance has been very loud about being a Catholic. He'll soon find he's not more Catholic than the Pope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rut roh.

Prevost has faced criticism from advocates for clergy abuse survivors regarding his handling of sexual abuse allegations during his leadership in the Augustinian order and in Peru. The advocacy group SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) has alleged that Prevost failed to act against abuse claims involving Richard McGrath, a former president of Providence Catholic High School, allowing him to remain in his position despite longstanding accusations.

None of the clerics who have had any level of significant responsibility are untouched by this scandal. This doesn't make him any better or worse than the rest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is fascinating:

https://bsky.app/profile/reichlinmelnick.bsky.social/post/3looh2t6zhc2e

Text in case the link doesn't work:

"The new Pope didn't tweet once in 2024. In 2025, he's posted 5 times, in which he:

- Criticized JD Vance's views on Catholicism and Jesus
- Posted an article opposing Trump's immigration policies
- Retweeted twice about the Pope's health
- Retweeted a criticism of Trump & Bukele's laughter at KAG."

It is very hard to view this as unintentional. The first pope born in the United States selected. He's vocally criticized both Trump and Vance in the last three months after being entirely silent prior to that and not posting about a single other political issue in that time. One of the last acts of Pope Francis, who was very close to Pope Leo in life, was to meet with Vance. AND don't forget that the meeting between Trump and Zelensky that precipitated the US suddenly getting much tougher with Russia literally occurred at Pope Francis's funeral, in the Vatican. The chairs were placed by bishops or cardinals (I can't remember which!).

There is a message being sent here.

The message is that he's a savvy politician who understood an American who supported the Trump administration had exactly zero chance of being elected pope. He knew very well he was 'papabile' and had a particular strategy going into the conclave, which was successful. Fine with me, all for the greater good to have a synodalist committed to human rights in that position.

The message is that he's a Peruvian national who genuinely detests Trump's immigration policies. No need to try to twist him into Machiavelli, that's just dumb.

He was born in Chicago, no?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get why anyone would be happy given this: "In picking the 69-year-old Prevost, the papal conclave looked past allegations that he had mishandled or failed to act on sexual abuse cases involving priests in both Peru and the United States."

Do any cardinals care about sexual abuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So to those who say he’s a liberal, what about this?

https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/05/08/pope-robert-prevost-lgbt/

He is a liberal Catholic. Pro-Latin America. Which is a very specific thing.

He is pro-choice of course. Also anti-IVF and any reproductive technology.

Anti-LGBT and Gay marriage. Both of these are not optional for someone who is in that kind of a position of power within the Church.

He is also someone who likely has a Latin American sensibility about distribution of wealth and does not love the new power we have deemed billionaires worthy of.

He holds the position that the Catholic Church long has on immigration, on meeting the needs of the poor and on the environment and the need for Peace.

None of this puts him out of step with the Bishops of the world, with the US Bishops' Conference or with the Vatican.
The fact that he has navigated the Vatican for so long means that he won't be easily tripped up.

I think it's a great choice. And yes, most definitely a choice meant to put a check on any of the US Conservative Catholics (Supreme Court Justices, anyone?) who think that they are called by their faith to affirm immigrants being sent to concentration camps. Obviously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get why anyone would be happy given this: "In picking the 69-year-old Prevost, the papal conclave looked past allegations that he had mishandled or failed to act on sexual abuse cases involving priests in both Peru and the United States."

Do any cardinals care about sexual abuse.

Well, they picked one we know for a fact does not care given he covered things up TWICE in highly publicized cases, and it didn't take them long to pick him. That tells you how much they care to try and find one without this baggage. Huge slap in the face to the thousands of victims of abusive priests worldwide, and shows that the Vatican will continue not to care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So to those who say he’s a liberal, what about this?

https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/05/08/pope-robert-prevost-lgbt/

He is a liberal Catholic. Pro-Latin America. Which is a very specific thing.

He is pro-choice of course. Also anti-IVF and any reproductive technology.

Anti-LGBT and Gay marriage. Both of these are not optional for someone who is in that kind of a position of power within the Church.

He is also someone who likely has a Latin American sensibility about distribution of wealth and does not love the new power we have deemed billionaires worthy of.

He holds the position that the Catholic Church long has on immigration, on meeting the needs of the poor and on the environment and the need for Peace.

None of this puts him out of step with the Bishops of the world, with the US Bishops' Conference or with the Vatican.
The fact that he has navigated the Vatican for so long means that he won't be easily tripped up.

I think it's a great choice. And yes, most definitely a choice meant to put a check on any of the US Conservative Catholics (Supreme Court Justices, anyone?) who think that they are called by their faith to affirm immigrants being sent to concentration camps. Obviously.

Should be pro-life, obviously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get why anyone would be happy given this: "In picking the 69-year-old Prevost, the papal conclave looked past allegations that he had mishandled or failed to act on sexual abuse cases involving priests in both Peru and the United States."

Do any cardinals care about sexual abuse.

Well, they picked one we know for a fact does not care given he covered things up TWICE in highly publicized cases, and it didn't take them long to pick him. That tells you how much they care to try and find one without this baggage. Huge slap in the face to the thousands of victims of abusive priests worldwide, and shows that the Vatican will continue not to care.

The Catholic Church of today has no idea how important the issue of sexual abuse is to Catholics and indeed people worldwide.