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I felt such great joy this morning when the priest said the words "Preafericitul Parintele nostru Papa Leon". I realised then how very unhappy the name Francisc always made me every Sunday.
A weight has now been lifted.
My father would be shocked at my speaking about a pope in this way, but I do not imagine I am alone.
I learnt we had an American pope from a Catholic friend who called me. I switched on the BBC when I got home but I am allergic to Austen Ivereigh, Francis's arch-sycophant, who was the BBC Catholic expert.
He likes the new Pope a lot, but let's hope this means nothing.
Pope Leo XIV appeared on the balcony. He wore papal robes which suggests he is humble not faux humble.
The Associated Press said today: 'Francis in many ways saw the Chicago-born Augustinian missionary Robert Prevost as something of an heir apparent: He moved him to take over a small Peruvian diocese in 2014, where Prevost later became bishop and head of the Peruvian bishops conference, and then called him to Rome to take over one of the most important Vatican offices vetting bishop nominations in 2023."
It added:
"Madagascar Cardinal Désiré Tsarahazana told reporters on Saturday that on the final ballot, Prevost had received “more” than 100 of the 133 votes. That suggests an extraordinary margin, well beyond the two-thirds, or 89 votes, necessary to be elected."
Not so extraordinary a margin but extraordinary news, since but the cardinals swore a solemn vow to keep the proceedings of the conclave secret.
A great cardinal like Cardinal Sarah could not have been elected pope by the sort of cardinals Francis appointed.
On the other hand in time the boomer cardinals will be replaced by younger conservatives.
Pope Leo XIV (of course) chose his name to signal his interest in the social policy of Pope Leo XIII, but in at least one American election Leo XIV was a registered Republican. So there is that.
One of his brothers likes Donald Trump. So the Pope has heard the arguments against illegal immigration.
Here is an example of a boomer Irish priest, Fr. Brendan Hoban, who has an influential role in the Irish Synod, saying of young priests: "They are traditional, they wear black, soutanes, they want to talk about sin, they want the Latin Mass! I despair of young priests." Fr Hoban's generation will be replaced in the college of cardinals and in parishes if God wills it.
ReplyDeletehttps://x.com/CatholicArena/status/1562073453490061315
DeleteA male friend of mine had an erotic wrestling match with a young Catholic priest so there's that.
DeleteSlight, only slight improvement over the previous. Prevost spent his career as a kind of missionary tourist. I've known Augustinians who made cushy careers in Peru, a land which *surely* shouldn't need any missionarying after 500 years.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand Pius IX came in as a progressive liberalizer too, then discovered how terribly naive he was and ended up promulgating the Syllabus of Errors (which still makes good reading). These prelates live a sheltered existence and shouldn't be allowed out unchaperoned after dark. They imagine their degrees in Canon Law provide them with political insight that is quite the equal of those who have worried over these worldly matters all our lives.