Featuring Jen Rubin's welcome to Pope Leo XIV; Adam Kinzinger & Jen Rubin; Jeff Nesbit; Carron J. Phillips; Azza Cohen; Culture Corner's Recommendations of the week; and the Democracy Movement
May Pope Leo be a wise, caring and inclusive shepherd of his flock. I am heartened by his prior pushback against Vance’s misinterpretation of scripture. I hope Pope Leo is more like Pope Francis and less like Pope Benedict…Gucci loafers and all.
My exact thought. From what the article said, I think he is a lot like Pope Francis. It doesn't hurt that he spent his career working in Peru. I am grateful that the papacy did not experience the kind of blowback against a Pope who was different, that we in the US have experienced after President Obama.
Thank God for sending us Pope Leo XIV. I pray that he will continue Pope Francis' mission and message of peace among nations, equality among peoples and the Christian imperative to reach out to the lowest and the neediest.
Back when I was teaching undergraduates, I used to tell them that there would never be an American Pope. The reason: the UN General Secretary and the Pope are two international leaders who serve as helpful, if light, counterweights to the most powerful world leader, the President of the United States.
So why was American Robert Francis Prevost elected pope? Three good reasons:
--He is not parochial. He has spent most of his life in Peru and became a citizen of that country.
--He spent the last few years as head of the Vatican office for vetting new bishops, meaning that the cardinals of the world had come to know and trust him. Typically, cardinals nominate candidates to fill empty bishop positions in their countries, the Vatican office vets the candidates and makes a recommendation to the pope, and the pope appoints the new bishop.
--Finally, and critically, our current international landscape demands an American Pope who will act as a SANE counterbalance to Mad King Donnie. Our world needs at least one sane American in a very high place.
I am looking forward to many good things from Leo XIV. Anyone who looks down and sees friends there is fine with me.
Agree with your comment: “Our world needs at least one sane American in a very high place”. There are many Americans fighting for democracy and the election of Pope Leo must give everyone a boost.
A very good day. Thoroughly agree with your comments on the new Pope. I’m pretty sure his remarks on social media were based on his philosophy and world view. Looking forward to following his work and hope his flock will join him in advancing peace and kindness throughout the world.
May God abundantly bless our new Pope. I’m so grateful he is in the same vein as Pope Francis. It also points to me that the church thinks the US is a mission territory now….being a missionary was a good part of Pope Leo’s formation. May his leadership soften the hard hearts of American Catholics and continue to preach the Gospel of love instead of the American evangelical gospel of prosperity(which is no small part of how we ended up here. Many evangelicals believe rich people are blessed by God…the total opposite of Jesus’s teachings).
Thank you so much, The Contrarian, for gathering info and photos of protests and rallies. It’s so important. May our movement swell beyond all expectations and attract those among us who are still shy.
I love that Pope Leo XIV was very close to Pope Francis. I'm hoping that the Catholic church is finally changing directions, to become what Jesus would have wanted. I also love that he has castigated vance, trump, and their vile behaviors.
I'll say it again. For every lawsuit file, Donald Trump needs to be named personally. For every executive order he issued and SIGNED, he takes responsibility for the outcome! The documents might not be law, but the consequences can be laid at his door.
Robert Barron, bishop of the Diocese of Winona–Rochester in Minnesota, recently appointed by President Trump to the new White House Commission on Religious Liberty. “Cardinal George of Chicago … was one of my great mentors, and he said: 'Look, until America goes into political decline, there won't be an American pope’.” And now we have an American- Peruvian pope.
I am hoping that Pope Leo XIV will do what I don't think any other head of state (and the pope is considered a head of state) has done. I'm hoping that if our immoral president invites him to the White House, he will decline. I'm hoping he won't do what other heads of states have done and let himself be beckoned by this man to be seen paying him homage. Let the White House wanna-be pope travel to meet the actual pope. Even then, maybe the pope shouldn't accept this despot as his guest. Let the new pope stand in clear opposition to all that our despotic president stands for.
In explaining why he chose the name Leo, the new pope cited Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum, wherein “he emphasized the church’s right to make assertions about social issues as they related to moral questions.” Any foray into partisan politics is, of course, beyond the Pope’s remit. He can’t urge Catholics to vote for a certain candidate because he/she takes a certain stand on some issue. But the Pope can speak out on moral and social issues and even on political issues that reflect or conflict with his institution’s values.
He can certainly extend an invitation to another head of state, or decline to, accept an invitation from another head of state, or decline the invitation. And within accepted bounds of diplomacy he might signal the reasons for his choices. It would be regrettable if the Pope's actions could be interpreted as support for "the devil." And we all know which "devil" twists anything he can into someone's support for him.
The continuation of Pope Francis's mission in these times is so important, and it's heartening to hear that Pope Leo XIV will continue it. The humanitarian aspect of the mission will be welcomed and never overlooked. May he serve wisely and in good health for years.
… Cardinal Robert Prevost is now the first American Pope, and he has posted articles critical of both Trump and JD Vance in recent years. Prevost shared an article in February titled “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others,” challenging Vance's interpretation of Christian teachings to justify MAGA's restrictive immigration policies.
… In April 2025, Prevost retweeted a post highlighting Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjívar's condemnation of the deportation of a US resident, questioning, “Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?”
… He also retweeted Sen. Chris Murphy’s post calling for stricter gun control laws, made a post calling for people to pray for George Floyd, and another calling for an end to the death penalty.
… Sean Davis, CEO of The Federalist: “The newly selected pope trashed Trump, trashed Vance, trashed border enforcement, endorsed DREAMer-style illegal immigration, repeatedly praised and honored George Floyd, and endorsed a Democrat senator’s call for more gun control.”
… MAGA activist Laura Loomer: “MARXIST POPE!”
… MAGA activist Catturd: “This is so bad.”
… Charlie Kirk: “There is cause for great concern.”
As an Irish-American Catholic, I am relieved and joyous with the selection of Pope Leo. Our world will only survive if we build bridges and seek common good for all, hate cannot be allowed to thrive. It is also interesting to note that this is the third time within a week that the authoritarian, isolation perspective has been soundly rejected, Canada, Australia, and now the Vatican. I can only pray that soon the United States will be added to the list!
Thank you for sharing your welcome to Pope Leo XIV, Jen. His positive nature, his love for all people and expectation of kindness, as well as the fact that he is an American give me high hopes that many lives and situations will be improved.
Robert Barron, bishop of the Diocese of Winona–Rochester in Minnesota, recently appointed by President Trump to the new White House Commission on Religious Liberty. “Cardinal George of Chicago … was one of my great mentors, and he said: 'Look, until America goes into political decline, there won't be an American pope’.” And now we have an American-Peruvian pope.
May Pope Leo be a wise, caring and inclusive shepherd of his flock. I am heartened by his prior pushback against Vance’s misinterpretation of scripture. I hope Pope Leo is more like Pope Francis and less like Pope Benedict…Gucci loafers and all.
My exact thought. From what the article said, I think he is a lot like Pope Francis. It doesn't hurt that he spent his career working in Peru. I am grateful that the papacy did not experience the kind of blowback against a Pope who was different, that we in the US have experienced after President Obama.
Thank God for sending us Pope Leo XIV. I pray that he will continue Pope Francis' mission and message of peace among nations, equality among peoples and the Christian imperative to reach out to the lowest and the neediest.
Back when I was teaching undergraduates, I used to tell them that there would never be an American Pope. The reason: the UN General Secretary and the Pope are two international leaders who serve as helpful, if light, counterweights to the most powerful world leader, the President of the United States.
So why was American Robert Francis Prevost elected pope? Three good reasons:
--He is not parochial. He has spent most of his life in Peru and became a citizen of that country.
--He spent the last few years as head of the Vatican office for vetting new bishops, meaning that the cardinals of the world had come to know and trust him. Typically, cardinals nominate candidates to fill empty bishop positions in their countries, the Vatican office vets the candidates and makes a recommendation to the pope, and the pope appoints the new bishop.
--Finally, and critically, our current international landscape demands an American Pope who will act as a SANE counterbalance to Mad King Donnie. Our world needs at least one sane American in a very high place.
I am looking forward to many good things from Leo XIV. Anyone who looks down and sees friends there is fine with me.
Agree with your comment: “Our world needs at least one sane American in a very high place”. There are many Americans fighting for democracy and the election of Pope Leo must give everyone a boost.
A very good day. Thoroughly agree with your comments on the new Pope. I’m pretty sure his remarks on social media were based on his philosophy and world view. Looking forward to following his work and hope his flock will join him in advancing peace and kindness throughout the world.
May God abundantly bless our new Pope. I’m so grateful he is in the same vein as Pope Francis. It also points to me that the church thinks the US is a mission territory now….being a missionary was a good part of Pope Leo’s formation. May his leadership soften the hard hearts of American Catholics and continue to preach the Gospel of love instead of the American evangelical gospel of prosperity(which is no small part of how we ended up here. Many evangelicals believe rich people are blessed by God…the total opposite of Jesus’s teachings).
Thank you so much, The Contrarian, for gathering info and photos of protests and rallies. It’s so important. May our movement swell beyond all expectations and attract those among us who are still shy.
I love that Pope Leo XIV was very close to Pope Francis. I'm hoping that the Catholic church is finally changing directions, to become what Jesus would have wanted. I also love that he has castigated vance, trump, and their vile behaviors.
So I guess the Maybelline drag queen is no longer Americas most important Catholic?
Thank you, sweet Baby Jesus....
I'll say it again. For every lawsuit file, Donald Trump needs to be named personally. For every executive order he issued and SIGNED, he takes responsibility for the outcome! The documents might not be law, but the consequences can be laid at his door.
A perhaps unintentionally insightful comment from
Robert Barron, bishop of the Diocese of Winona–Rochester in Minnesota, recently appointed by President Trump to the new White House Commission on Religious Liberty. “Cardinal George of Chicago … was one of my great mentors, and he said: 'Look, until America goes into political decline, there won't be an American pope’.” And now we have an American- Peruvian pope.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-pope-could-it-be-american-cardinal-robert-prevost/
wow
I am hoping that Pope Leo XIV will do what I don't think any other head of state (and the pope is considered a head of state) has done. I'm hoping that if our immoral president invites him to the White House, he will decline. I'm hoping he won't do what other heads of states have done and let himself be beckoned by this man to be seen paying him homage. Let the White House wanna-be pope travel to meet the actual pope. Even then, maybe the pope shouldn't accept this despot as his guest. Let the new pope stand in clear opposition to all that our despotic president stands for.
Popes aren't allowed to do that stuff.....they have to deal with everyone,especially those backed by the devil.
In explaining why he chose the name Leo, the new pope cited Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum, wherein “he emphasized the church’s right to make assertions about social issues as they related to moral questions.” Any foray into partisan politics is, of course, beyond the Pope’s remit. He can’t urge Catholics to vote for a certain candidate because he/she takes a certain stand on some issue. But the Pope can speak out on moral and social issues and even on political issues that reflect or conflict with his institution’s values.
He can certainly extend an invitation to another head of state, or decline to, accept an invitation from another head of state, or decline the invitation. And within accepted bounds of diplomacy he might signal the reasons for his choices. It would be regrettable if the Pope's actions could be interpreted as support for "the devil." And we all know which "devil" twists anything he can into someone's support for him.
The continuation of Pope Francis's mission in these times is so important, and it's heartening to hear that Pope Leo XIV will continue it. The humanitarian aspect of the mission will be welcomed and never overlooked. May he serve wisely and in good health for years.
Got this from Meidas
… Cardinal Robert Prevost is now the first American Pope, and he has posted articles critical of both Trump and JD Vance in recent years. Prevost shared an article in February titled “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn't ask us to rank our love for others,” challenging Vance's interpretation of Christian teachings to justify MAGA's restrictive immigration policies.
… In April 2025, Prevost retweeted a post highlighting Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjívar's condemnation of the deportation of a US resident, questioning, “Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?”
… He also retweeted Sen. Chris Murphy’s post calling for stricter gun control laws, made a post calling for people to pray for George Floyd, and another calling for an end to the death penalty.
… Sean Davis, CEO of The Federalist: “The newly selected pope trashed Trump, trashed Vance, trashed border enforcement, endorsed DREAMer-style illegal immigration, repeatedly praised and honored George Floyd, and endorsed a Democrat senator’s call for more gun control.”
… MAGA activist Laura Loomer: “MARXIST POPE!”
… MAGA activist Catturd: “This is so bad.”
… Charlie Kirk: “There is cause for great concern.”
So Pope Bob is a politically moderate never-Trumper.
Nice going, Cardinals! 👍
South America is also America. Francis was from South America
Que pedante.
As an Irish-American Catholic, I am relieved and joyous with the selection of Pope Leo. Our world will only survive if we build bridges and seek common good for all, hate cannot be allowed to thrive. It is also interesting to note that this is the third time within a week that the authoritarian, isolation perspective has been soundly rejected, Canada, Australia, and now the Vatican. I can only pray that soon the United States will be added to the list!
Thank you for sharing your welcome to Pope Leo XIV, Jen. His positive nature, his love for all people and expectation of kindness, as well as the fact that he is an American give me high hopes that many lives and situations will be improved.
A perhaps unintentionally insightful comment from
Robert Barron, bishop of the Diocese of Winona–Rochester in Minnesota, recently appointed by President Trump to the new White House Commission on Religious Liberty. “Cardinal George of Chicago … was one of my great mentors, and he said: 'Look, until America goes into political decline, there won't be an American pope’.” And now we have an American-Peruvian pope.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-pope-could-it-be-american-cardinal-robert-prevost/