Hi everyone!
Pardon the all caps, but it's a day later and I am still shocked at what we witnessed yesterday, the anointing of an American pope. If you've been reading along, you know I thought for sure, under no circumstances would we see an American pope, ever ever ever in my lifetime. I didn't even think we'd see that in my son's lifetime. But here we are. Watching the crowd and Pope Leo XIV speak, I wished I were there. My friend and colleague Jack Posobiec was there and he sent over a video from the top of the towers where he got to look out at the immense crowd that had gathered. I found it to be very emotionally moving that in our jaded day and age, the anointing of a holy, Christian leader could still draw so many in hope and faith.
Immediately after he was named, social media was a flurry with speculation about his political positions, digging into his past comments, and people trying to sort out his view of Trump. I get it, that's what people on social media do, that's their raison d'etre, as it were, and while there wasn't much with which to make hay, the general consensus came in that he's not keen on Trump, not keep on deportation plans, but better on LGBTQ than Pope Francis was. He's been quoted as saying, "The promotion of gender ideology is confusing, because it seeks to create genders that don't exist." Amen.
It's key to remember, though, as we wonder about the Pope's politics, that he's not essentially a political figure. If you believe in Catholic doctrine, you believe he was chosen by God in that the Holy Spirit was in the room with the cardinals, under the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, guiding their hearts in faith. I've been Catholic since I was 7 years old. I was baptized, went through reconciliation, and received my first Holy Communion all about the same time.
There was some tumult at the time because my father's Massachusetts evangelical family was not super keen on my dad's second wife turning me into a Papist, but it happened anyway. I'm grateful for it, and in a roundabout way, it brought me closer to the traditions of my mother's family, who were Italian-American Roman Catholics in Brooklyn. By the time Catholicism hit my mother's generation, they all gave up the practice. Interestingly, I would not have become Catholic if I'd grown up with my mom; it took a stranger coming into the family to restore to me my birthright.
Lots of people are saying Pope Leo is a disappointing pick, that he's too liberal, not hard-line enough, too cut in the mold of Pope Francis, but I say leave politics to the politicians, leave the fate of nations, too, to those nations to sort out. I know lots disagree with me here, but politics pales in comparison to the importance of faith. Politics never brings peace, faith and God's love are the only things that do.
Trump congratulated the new pope and thought it was pretty cool that we've got a yank out there in the Vatican for the first time ever. Arguably, Trump and Pope Leo XIV are the two most influential people in the world, and they're both American, both from one of our major metropolises, New York and Chicago, both bringing that ethos literally to the world stage. To all those saying America is in decline, I offer this as evidence of American ascendancy.
In other news, Trump announced a comprehensive trade deal with the UK that Prime Minister Keir Starmer was pretty jazzed about, too. Letitia James is being investigated by the DOJ for basically the same thing she accused Trump of engaging in, loan fraud. Trump named Fox News host Jeanine Piro as interim US attorney for DC after NC Sen. Thom Tillis said he would not vote to confirm former nominee Ed Martin.
Amnesty International encouraged Canada to accept those illegal immigrants who are currently leaving the US due to the crackdown on illegal immigration. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson permanently removed all statues of Christopher Columbus from city parks. Trump called out NY Sen. Chuck Schumer for his "Trump Derangement Syndrome." And Joe Biden defended himself on The View against allegations that he was in mental decline during his presidency. Ok, Joe, I'm sure you convinced The View ladies, because they are not exactly star intellects themselves, but as for the rest of us, we know what's up.
Here's what's on my desk today:
Trump congratulates Pope Leo XIV as first American to serve
“I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!”
Chief Justice John Roberts says judiciary role is to ‘check the excesses’ of Congress, executive branch
“In our Constitution, judges and the judiciary is a co equal branch of government, separate from the others, with the authority to interpret the Constitution as law and strike down, obviously, acts of Congress or acts of of the President.”
Trump to announce ‘full and comprehensive’ trade deal with UK
The deal “will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come.”
FBI investigates NY AG Letitia James over mortgage fraud
The investigation into James is being led by US Attorney John Sarcone III.