His Holiness Pope Leo XIV (then-Cardinal Robert Prevost) celebrates the Latin Mass
"Habemus papam!" ("We have a pope!") Many were the tears shed by millions of Catholics worldwide on hearing of American Cardinal Robert Prevost's election to the papacy. Tears of joy - and relief that the 12-year illegal interregnum of Jorge Mario Bergoglio is at last over. That once again, in the Canon of the Mass, faithful, thinking Catholics have a pope to pray for.
Ah yes, you say - glad you mentioned the Mass. Because the twittering on X all day has been deafening but the $64,000 question of the new Pope Leo XIV's position on the "Mass of Ages" - the Usus Antiquior so harshly restricted by Bergoglio's Traditionis Custodes and so critical to the future of the Church - rated barely a mention. But as is evident above, Leo XIV celebrates the Latin Mass himself. Deo gratias.
On the other hand, he was reputedly the favorite papabile of the infamous Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago and Fr James Martin, SJ. Hard to reconcile that with his recorded statement referencing "the homosexual lifestyle" as being "at odds with the Gospel".
- Pope Leo XIV is staunchly pro-life, anti-trans ideology and anti-women deacons
- He appeared on the balcony wearing the mozzetta
- He spoke in Italian, Spanish - and excellent Latin
- He chose to be named after all those Leos, including Leo the Great
- While Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru he walked the city streets during the COVID-19 lockdown with the Blessed Sacrament in a monstrance, offering his people a profound gesture of faith and consolation
- He's reprimanded the media for encouraging “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel”
- In his short address after election he mentioned "Jesus Christ" seven times.
So what's not to like?
Well.
- The worst one can say is, he's said "We want to be a synodal Church." We don't.
- On the death penalty and immigration he sounds a bit of a bleeding heart, opposing the former and favouring the latter.
- Pope Leo XIV, as the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, was involved in a leadership assessment while working in the Vatican, that lead to Bishop Joseph Strickland’s removal from the Diocese. The new Pope signed the letter wrongfully removing him from his diocese.
- Pope Leo had sex abuse issues that were just now scrubbed from his Wikipedia page. He was accused of covering up sexual molestation of 3 women in Peru
- And (the clincher, lol) after his election was announced, Cardinal Cupich was spotted SMILING.
Why did the cardinal-electors choose an American as pope? Perhaps because the Vatican is stony-broke (as it deserves to be), and the US is its largest benefactor.
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By the way, he was chosen was chosen on May 8, the birthday of Venerable Fulton J. Sheen, St. Charbel, and St. John Mary Vianney.
We might even get to see the papal tiara reinstated in its proper place: the head of His Holiness.
Bishop Joseph Strickland, who was deposed with the help of (the then-Cardinal Prevost) Pope Leo XIV, is praying for him even as we write. We must all follow his example and pray for our new pope, that he will be truly leonine in his defence of Christ and Holy Mother Church.
And Francis is dead. All those prelates who were intimidated by him, including perhaps the then-Cardinal Prevost, now have a new-found freedom to follow Christ.
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| Pope Leo XIV has been called "a MASSIVE" white pill |
Newly elected Pope Leo XIV is widely considered to be soft-spoken and cautious — but has not been shy in recent years about speaking out on hot-button issues, from the teaching of gender ideology in schools to climate change.
Known as Robert Francis Prevost prior to his election Thursday as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the 69-year-old Chicago native’s views on several controversial topics can be gleaned from past social media posts (and reposts), public remarks and interviews with media outlets.
Climate change
Like his predecessor, Francis, Leo XIV is a strong believer that the faithful have a responsibility to take care of the planet.
The then-president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops argued in November of last year that it is time to move “from words to action” on the “environmental crisis.”
“Dominion over nature” should not become “tyrannical,” Prevost stressed, arguing that man’s relationship with the environment must be a “relationship of reciprocity,” according to Vatican News.
Prevost further cautioned against the “harmful” environmental impacts of technological development and highlighted the Vatican’s installation of solar panels and use of electric vehicles.
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| Pope Leo leads the faithful in praying the Hail Mary |
Gender ideology and homosexuality
While Francis famously told reporters, “Who am I to judge?” gay people and said homosexuals “must be integrated into society,” Leo XIV may be less accommodating.
In a 2012 address to bishops, Prevost accused the news media and popular culture for encouraging “sympathy for beliefs and practices that are at odds with the gospel,” according to the New York Times.
Among those “beliefs and practices” Prevost cited were the “homosexual lifestyle” and “alternative families comprised of same-sex partners and their adopted children.
While bishop of Chiclayo in northwestern Peru, Prevost opposed a government initiative to promote gender ideology teachings in schools.”
“The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don’t exist,” he told local news media at the time.
Abortion
On social media, Prevost has expressed strong support for the Catholic Church’s anti-abortion stance.
In 2015, Prevost posted a photograph from the March For Life rally in Chiclayo, exhorting his followers: “Let’s defend human life at all times!”
Prevost also retweeted a 2017 Catholic News Agency article on New York Archbishop Timothy, Cardinal Dolan condemning abortion at a Mass ahead of the March for Life rally in Washington, DC.
In his homily, Dolan urged Catholics to “reclaim the belief that the mother’s womb is the primal sanctuary, where a helpless, innocent, fragile, tiny baby is safe, secure, nurtured and protected.”
Capital punishment
Prevost has expressed opposition to capital punishment, reflecting the Catholic Church’s position and Francis’ commitment to see the practice ended worldwide.
The Catholic Church's very recent position, that is - in opposition to her teaching for hundreds of years.
“It’s time to end the death penalty,” he wrote March 5, 2015, in an X post
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| The Empire State Building wears gold and white for the first American pope |
Euthanasia
In 2016, Prevost reposted a Catholic News Agency article in which citizens of Belgium, where euthanasia is legal, urged Canadians not to support legislation that would allow for assisted suicides.
“’Don’t go there’ – Belgians plead with Canada not to pass euthanasia law #Prolife,” read the tweet that Prevost shared.
In the article, Belgian doctors, lawyers, and family members whose loved ones were euthanized argued that assisted suicide threatens the most vulnerable in society and compromises the doctor-patient relationship.
Gun rights
In October 2017, Prevost retweeted a call for new US gun control from Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) after a gunman murdered 60 people in Las Vegas.
“To my colleagues: your cowardice to act cannot be whitewashed by thoughts and prayers. None of this ends unless we do something to stop it,” Murphy wrote in the tweet shared by the new pope.
https://nypost.com/2025/05/08/us-news/pope-leo-xiv-in-his-own-words-the-pontiff-on-abortion-climate-change-homosexuality-and-capital-punishment/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=news_alert&utm_content=20250508?&utm_source=sailthru&lctg=67856b6ce90a708aa7032041&utm_term=NYP%20-%20News%20Alerts
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| Following election His Holiness Pope Leo XIV prays in the Sistine Chapel |
"Pray fervently for Pope Leo XIV that Our Lord, through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Peter Apostle, and Pope Saint Leo the Great, will grant him abundant wisdom, strength, and courage to do all that Our Lord is asking of Him in these tumultuous times. May God bless Pope Leo and grant him many years. Viva il Papa!"
- Cardinal Raymond Burke
ReplyDeleteSpot on!
ReplyDeletePraying for him
ReplyDeleteNo one is perfect. Pray for our new pope.
ReplyDeleteSo is it a crime to smile or a sin
DeleteSarah Melissa Scheuermann et al, you're all very sweet but I think you missed the irony of Cupich's smile being 'the clincher'.
DeleteSharon Mc Kay Jaszkowiak I'm not a fan of open borders, but that's not the Pope's job and reasonable people can disagree on that issue. The main issue for the Pope, the bishops, and the other clergy (and us as baptized Christians) is the salvation of souls. All else is irrelevant.
Catholic teaching affirms the right and duty of nations to secure their borders and enforce immigration laws to protect the common good. So it's very relevant to the salvation of souls.
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ReplyDeleteJason Mills
Catholicism has always taught that the death penalty is sometimes permissible to defend the common good. Even John Paul II said it should be rare yet permissible
Francis inserted a fallible line in a catechism that said it's not admissible due to modern prison systems.
Even the veracity of the statement is questionable, as there are still attacks and murders in prison.
DeleteMatt Pag was- Pope Francis said in an interview that there are times when the death penalty is justified in the face of heinous crimes that there is no chance for redemption or rehabilitation. He was widely criticized for that stance.
DeleteCyndi Inkpen
That statement would not be consistent with his insertion in the catechism said it's "inadmissible"
DeleteJason Mills For almost all of its history the Church supported the death penalty. Then the post-Vat2 N O Synodal Bergoglian sect, in opposition to the Magisterium, decided otherwise.
If 'the Pope' (who was not the pope) said 'remove him' when to do so was manifestly unjust, you do not have to obey. +Prevost's duty, like every Catholic's, is always to "obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29).
ReplyDeleteJason Mills I like your run-down of our newly elected Pope! I hope Strickland and Pavone will be reinstated. I believe our ‘dear’ Cardinal from south Omaha, Cupich, (smile or no smile) has evil intent and pushes pro gay/trans agenda which (to me) is like advocating for Sodom & Gomorrah behavior. AND we must eradicate homosexuality among our priests ( shame on Ryan, Bernardin, McCarrick & others for what they did to young seminarians & others). As for Peru, I heard various stories and the truth is somewhere in there. I hope Pope Leo xiv doesn’t send mixed messages like I believe our former Pope engaged and no pachamama in our blessed churches, ever. God bless and keep our Pope Leo!!!
ReplyDeleteSuppose we are in the end times. Suppose he’s the last pope. There is always that possibility, and so, in accepting this mission from God, Pope Leo XIV could be agreeing to be a martyr. So let’s give him the respect he deserves. We can disagree with the pope on non doctrinal things, but if we aren’t respectful, then we need to examine our own motives.
DeleteGinny Anspach respect is earned. lets see how he acts and what he does.
DeletePoppa Bear his very office deserves respect.
DeleteJulia du Fresne indeed but now one has to discuss if the office is occupied by a legit person. the office (Keeper of the Keys) goes back to Joseph in Egypt, Shebna, Elizakim and up to today. respect the office and let the person elected...earn the respect.
DeletePoppa Bear I agree that there are doubts about the legitimacy of this conclave.
DeleteGinny Anspach We are past all that. I can be respectful and hold my nose at the same.
DeleteJanet Ridgeway that’s fine. Some of the vituperation I’m seeing is beyond mere criticism. I already know I don’t agree with Pope Leo XIV on some things, things that are more political than religious, but pray he will obey church doctrine and lead his flock to know the truth. In any event, I do believe God is in control. Hope we stop bashing each other.
DeleteGinny Anspach Bashing one another is no way to act, totally agree. Bergolio dismissed and excommunicated great Priests, Vigano was a great Bishop, at a time when we need more Priests.
I believe the worst we ever had.
I think all that doesn't matter, now what matters is how he allows the Lord to use him now that he is Vicar of Christ.
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DeleteRaymond Mohau Bereng well lets see, God gave us free will. Is Leo a Many Pathway, same sex coupling couple blessing guy??? His actions and words will show all
DeletePoppa Bear Francis meant well, he was just really bad at messaging (I think).
As a pope, how the message is delivered and perceived is as important as the message itself.
Popes jobs aren’t that difficult - just stick to the plan put in place as spelled out in the Bible and sacred tradition. And dont change it.
DeleteKevin Astley initially I too thought the same, Francis was a poor communicator. however too many times the message was jumbled or was it really jumbled??? Jorge was a peronist and a modernist.
ReplyDeleteGod has everything in hand.
DeleteNola-Marie Dixon that's an easy cop-out. God has given the earth to man, He said in the Psalms. Don't blame God. Blame man.
ReplyDeletePatricia Ferrer i missed it; how did Bishop Strickland disobey?
ReplyDeleteLinda Wagner the Pope is his superior, he is not supposed to spread statements such as the Pope is the usurper and a false Pope. That is utterly ridiculous and juvenile. Its disobedient to the vows bishops make in their loyalty to the holy father, to maintain union of the hierarchy. Its too bad he couldnt keep his criticism more cordial, he may still be the bishop of Tyler.
DeletePatricia Ferrer but if Bishop Strickland believed, like many others, that Pope Francis had automatically invalidated himself as pope because of his heresies (e.g. that all religions lead to God), then he was being obedient to Christ, not to Jorge Bergoglio. I don't find that ridiculous or juvenile at all. Bishop Strickland is one of the very few not willing to "bend over and grab the ankles," as Rush would say, in the face of Francis's flagrant violation of Catholic principles
DeleteLinda Wagner i agree with his stance but not the way it was delivered. Obedience is key. The Church is not a democracy, it is a hierarchy. Vows mean something. There are plenty of other ways to express disagreement, but calling him a usurper of Peter was dangerous. So many souls left the Church because they put so much faith in words like those…
Patricia Ferrer you'll be aware of what the Church calls "false obedience".
DeleteSt Thomas Aquinas explains that true obedience involves following just laws and legitimate authorities in a manner that upholds God’s law and proper ethical principles.
There are two primary situations when a Catholic may refuse to obey a superior: 1) when the order comes from one lacking the proper authority or 2) when the order is harmful for souls.
Francis lacked proper authority and many of his statements were harmful to souls. He encouraged and promoted what is sinful. “Salus animarum, suprema lex” (the salvation of souls is the supreme law). Even if a superior who is lawful orders what is sinful, we must disobey his command.
The Second Council of Nicea infallibly declared: “If anyone rejects any written or unwritten Tradition of the Church, let him be anathema.” Our Lady warned at Fatima that many would in fact lose the dogma of Faith.
Beware false obedience.
ReplyDeleteHe was also endorsed by Cardinal Burke. We need to pray the Petrine graces upon him !
ReplyDeleteHis choice of papal garb, his choice of name, the way certain cardinals (not good ones) were staring at him with obvious malice all suggest we should be hopeful and pray for him, just as we prayed for the conclave that elected him. Way, way too early to make judgments; these should be held in abeyance unless we have solid evidence. Even a moderate (in average) would be a breath of fresh air and a mammoth relief. ☺️
ReplyDeleteThere always is the chance that he actually is a conservative who kept those beliefs to himself. For instance, Ben Shapiro when he was at Stanford knew the game and the intolerance of liberals so his answers on all his tests he wrote like he was a communist said that he would get good grades.
In addition all popes are given divine guidance and this guidance can change them for the better if they accept it.
Dr. Christopher Wilson Bergoglio is gone. Who knows what changes his absence might effect in priests and prelates who cringed before him?
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Julia du Fresne Yes several priest have been voicing more conservative views publicly after his death. They obviously feared him and his papacy and being laicized.
ReplyDeleteDear Catholic Brothers and Sisters,
I still hear and see people calling Pope Francis “Francis” and now Pope Leo XIV “Leo”.
Please, let’s respect the office and their positions and refer to them as Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV.
If anyone finds the need to call them by first name only, they both have names that do not need “Pope” in front of them.
Pope Francis is Jorge and Pope Leo XIV is Robert.
DeleteKathy Van Dokkumburg personally, Francis' was the most respectful way I could think of to address the man who usurped the papacy.
If people need an abbreviated form of 'Pope Leo XI', I believe it's respectful to use +Leo. The sign of the cross can be used for anyone in the priesthood.