So much concentrated information, history, weaving into another fantastic epistle from the altar of Mr. Olear. I wished for more from Francis on finally acknowledging women. Sigh. Telling how ingrained this misogyny is, and how powerful it must be.
This conclave result will be so telling, Greg--if the tendrils of Francis' tender theology hold and grow or if the global and monied tentacles of the likes of Leonard Leo prevail.
Best pope of my lifetime, he fought a good fight on many fronts. The church could do worse, sadly, I expect they will.
It's amazing the entity has lasted this long, given the misogyny. They should elect a woman pope. That would bring the Church into the 21st century AND break the brains of the Leo people. Twice blessed!
I have just read in the UK Guardian the list of eligible candidates to be selected as pope. The closest to Francis in believes and following his good work seems to be Matteo Zuppi 69 years old from Italy. The worst of all is the one from Hungary, Peter Erdo, who has align himself to Viktor Orban’s nationalist government. The others are just as conservative and traditionalist as all the ones before Francis. Let’s hope Trump’s message on his passing “the Pope is finally coming to America” doesn’t happen. Will Elon Musk’s octopus tentacles reach the Vatican? One never knows.
Rusalka, like you I read the profiles, and Matteo Zuppi’s made me smile…just looking at his face did as well. Of course, I fear the choice will be one of the others
Supposedly Francis made it so cardinals older than 80 cannot vote, and he personally named a sizable percentage of the younger ones, so...maybe we'll get lucky. Musk would want th new Popemobile to be a Cybertruck...
Best assessment of the Catholic papacy that I have ever read. You lay it all out, pull no punches and provide us with the “goods.” I thought they were the epitome of evil. Men prancing around as self-appointed gods. The rites and pageantry almost attracted me as a young person “seeking.” Fortunately, I recognized the difference between that and a humble Jesus. Well, mostly. Anyway, May Italy prevail. Another chump in power is unthinkable. Make the unthinkable, unthinkable again.
Thanks, JD. Jesus DID name the first Pope, although the structure and discipline was really installed by St. Paul and, a few centuries later, Constantine the Great, who correctly saw the Church as a means of uniting the diverse peoples in his vast empire. Maybe God will be on our side this time...
I expect people who skipped it the first time will be renting, "Conclave," over the next few weeks. This VERY lapsed Catholic thinks it's a 5-star film. Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, AND John Lithgow? How could you possibly go wrong? Excellent film!
I also expect, reading recent history, that we're in for a right-wing asshole to take over. It seems we are, for the moment, DONE with having nice things. RIP, Franciscus.
I was raised Protestant and married into a very Catholic family 30 years ago. I was actually the first non-Catholic in the family. I would have converted but my husband didn't care, so I did not. But, the priest of their church was the incredible Pastor McElroy who was made a Cardinal by Pope Francis in 2022 and now Archbishop of the DC Diocese.
I went to many services that McElroy gave and even though I was one of maybe two people in a huge church that had to sit in my pew for an hour while others were receiving the sacrament he never treated me differently. He would shake my hand and welcome me as much as a life long Catholic. He is also a very liberal priest and likely why Pope Francis promoted him to Cardinal.
Woke up today thinking about him and how he is heading to his first Conclave. Wouldn't we all love to be a fly in that room, especially after seeing the movie.
Oh, he's terrific. Thanks for sharing, Anita. In my experience, churches are very priest-dependent. There are plenty of stinkers, and way too many predators, but a good priest, a truly good one, is a wonderful thing and can make a big difference in the community.
"This lapsed Catholic prays for the opposite outcome—that the smoke rising from the conclave comes from copies of Project 2025’s Mandate for Leadership being tossed into the fireplace."
This lapsed Catholic agrees 100%. Excellent essay Greg; thank you as always.
Certainly I fit the textbook definition of a lapsed catholic. I do at times pray, speak to God, yes there is a Supreme Being, pick a name. For me God is there to help me, not to dictate life's choices ala Leo. What is more valuable than speaking to the unseen deity when life's trials and tribulations are getting the best of me, helping me to get by, finding needed strength, perhaps solace? This is a true religious experience.
Sadly this interaction has become a daily event, such are the life and times in which we live.
Thanks, Old Man. I quite agree. If you think about it, prayer is really just concentrated intention, and an entire church praying at the same time for the same thing intensifies the intention. There's a lot of power in these things, and a lot of solace.
Great article. Excellent comment on "manunkinds" greatest evil. The mythical invention of gods.
This 84 year old born a Calvinist and an Athiest at 14. Today a non believer in any of the 4000 "religions" and thier mystical BS sees Leo Leonard hard at work with his recent financial windfall as a player in the selection of a POPE to his satisfaction.
And given Vances meeting with the Pope and the Popes immediate demise how cannot an novelist like Dan Brown scribble a best seller wherein a VP, Novichok "dusts" a unfavorable religious leader?
Let us pray that Nature will rid this planet of "Manunkind."
Thanks, Cal. If there is a God, He will stop Dan Brown from writing another terrible novel about church stuff. That book is so terrible it actually caused me pain to read it. I would sooner flog myself than read anything else he ever writes. : )
With that said, the conspiracy theory about the odd death of John Paul I is used to great effect in the Richard Littell book THE COMPANY.
Greg, Trump will be there to be the center of attention, a photo op. He made it very clear on his crappy social media platform many times that he hated Pope Francis. My Italian friend from Florence just reminded me that the second Trump from Argentina, Melei, called Francis “a son of a bitch, why doesn’t he already die” when he was very sick in hospital. That SOB will be there as well. Ugh!
It always wows me to see palaces built by the Catholic Church in almost every town in Europe, as well as the Americas. These palace-like churches are to be contrasted with the hovels occupied by the working man and his family.
I’m sure the church has done a lot of good in the world, but also that it has gathered too much of the wealth.
Let’s hope and pray that the next man in the Robes will be a force for good. Billserle.com
I know what you mean, but I actually like the cathedrals. It's one of the things I liked about Catholicism, the way they invested so much into the churches, knowing that everyone would use them. And they all smell the same!
The history of the popes reads as a cautionary tale on the flaws inherent in the concentration of so much power in the hands of one man. Will we ever learn? The survival of the church is dependent on the conclave’s awareness of the severe damage done by the sexual abuse scandals, misogyny, homophobia and enabling of those who abuse power. Another reactionary right wing pope who condones the types of dogma such as Project 2025 would only accelerate the already steep decline; leading to even more churches and parishes closing, and even less people in the pews. The only way to offset the disintegration is with a renewed commitment to respect and protect the powerless and poor; and accept all people, especially women, as equal in the eyes of God - to follow the teachings of Jesus.
This extremely lapsed catholic will be waiting for a real signal that it’s not just all about patriarchy, power and money, but I’m not going to hold my breath. I feel cheated that the little church my family helped build over generations is shut down to pay for legal judgments on perverted priests and coverups, and I miss the place I should have had to sit and pray in peace. I take no pleasure in saying this,I have only sorrow for the good that could have been done through the church, and the potential squandered by hubris.
The abuse was systemic, and it seems obvious that they rotated priests around to avoid scandal. Inexcusable and unforgivable. They bring out the medieval torture devices for heresy but not for child sex abuse. Priorities are all wrong.
I will go back to church when the pope is a woman, as I told my mom years ago. The only way for the Church to get with the times is to do exactly as you say. It's not hard, it's just a matter of will and doing, you know, what Jesus would do.
You really dreamt that? I wish I had dreams like that. Also, I love that song.
So much concentrated information, history, weaving into another fantastic epistle from the altar of Mr. Olear. I wished for more from Francis on finally acknowledging women. Sigh. Telling how ingrained this misogyny is, and how powerful it must be.
This conclave result will be so telling, Greg--if the tendrils of Francis' tender theology hold and grow or if the global and monied tentacles of the likes of Leonard Leo prevail.
Best pope of my lifetime, he fought a good fight on many fronts. The church could do worse, sadly, I expect they will.
It's amazing the entity has lasted this long, given the misogyny. They should elect a woman pope. That would bring the Church into the 21st century AND break the brains of the Leo people. Twice blessed!
A big AMEN to that!
What are you drinking, Greg? 🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸🍸
I have just read in the UK Guardian the list of eligible candidates to be selected as pope. The closest to Francis in believes and following his good work seems to be Matteo Zuppi 69 years old from Italy. The worst of all is the one from Hungary, Peter Erdo, who has align himself to Viktor Orban’s nationalist government. The others are just as conservative and traditionalist as all the ones before Francis. Let’s hope Trump’s message on his passing “the Pope is finally coming to America” doesn’t happen. Will Elon Musk’s octopus tentacles reach the Vatican? One never knows.
Rusalka, like you I read the profiles, and Matteo Zuppi’s made me smile…just looking at his face did as well. Of course, I fear the choice will be one of the others
with a red blinking light. Stop.
Supposedly Francis made it so cardinals older than 80 cannot vote, and he personally named a sizable percentage of the younger ones, so...maybe we'll get lucky. Musk would want th new Popemobile to be a Cybertruck...
Best assessment of the Catholic papacy that I have ever read. You lay it all out, pull no punches and provide us with the “goods.” I thought they were the epitome of evil. Men prancing around as self-appointed gods. The rites and pageantry almost attracted me as a young person “seeking.” Fortunately, I recognized the difference between that and a humble Jesus. Well, mostly. Anyway, May Italy prevail. Another chump in power is unthinkable. Make the unthinkable, unthinkable again.
Thanks, JD. Jesus DID name the first Pope, although the structure and discipline was really installed by St. Paul and, a few centuries later, Constantine the Great, who correctly saw the Church as a means of uniting the diverse peoples in his vast empire. Maybe God will be on our side this time...
Thank you Greg
Thanks, Sara!
It’s TUESDAY🎉
Boom!
I expect people who skipped it the first time will be renting, "Conclave," over the next few weeks. This VERY lapsed Catholic thinks it's a 5-star film. Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, AND John Lithgow? How could you possibly go wrong? Excellent film!
I also expect, reading recent history, that we're in for a right-wing asshole to take over. It seems we are, for the moment, DONE with having nice things. RIP, Franciscus.
Thanks, Steve. Great publicity for that film, which I have not seen, but which everyone, yourself included, raves about. I guess it's time...
I was raised Protestant and married into a very Catholic family 30 years ago. I was actually the first non-Catholic in the family. I would have converted but my husband didn't care, so I did not. But, the priest of their church was the incredible Pastor McElroy who was made a Cardinal by Pope Francis in 2022 and now Archbishop of the DC Diocese.
I went to many services that McElroy gave and even though I was one of maybe two people in a huge church that had to sit in my pew for an hour while others were receiving the sacrament he never treated me differently. He would shake my hand and welcome me as much as a life long Catholic. He is also a very liberal priest and likely why Pope Francis promoted him to Cardinal.
Woke up today thinking about him and how he is heading to his first Conclave. Wouldn't we all love to be a fly in that room, especially after seeing the movie.
Oh, he's terrific. Thanks for sharing, Anita. In my experience, churches are very priest-dependent. There are plenty of stinkers, and way too many predators, but a good priest, a truly good one, is a wonderful thing and can make a big difference in the community.
"This lapsed Catholic prays for the opposite outcome—that the smoke rising from the conclave comes from copies of Project 2025’s Mandate for Leadership being tossed into the fireplace."
This lapsed Catholic agrees 100%. Excellent essay Greg; thank you as always.
Thanks, John. I remember now that I said, "You want me to come back to church? I will when the pope is a woman." I somehow don't see that happening...
Certainly I fit the textbook definition of a lapsed catholic. I do at times pray, speak to God, yes there is a Supreme Being, pick a name. For me God is there to help me, not to dictate life's choices ala Leo. What is more valuable than speaking to the unseen deity when life's trials and tribulations are getting the best of me, helping me to get by, finding needed strength, perhaps solace? This is a true religious experience.
Sadly this interaction has become a daily event, such are the life and times in which we live.
Thanks, Old Man. I quite agree. If you think about it, prayer is really just concentrated intention, and an entire church praying at the same time for the same thing intensifies the intention. There's a lot of power in these things, and a lot of solace.
Great article. Excellent comment on "manunkinds" greatest evil. The mythical invention of gods.
This 84 year old born a Calvinist and an Athiest at 14. Today a non believer in any of the 4000 "religions" and thier mystical BS sees Leo Leonard hard at work with his recent financial windfall as a player in the selection of a POPE to his satisfaction.
And given Vances meeting with the Pope and the Popes immediate demise how cannot an novelist like Dan Brown scribble a best seller wherein a VP, Novichok "dusts" a unfavorable religious leader?
Let us pray that Nature will rid this planet of "Manunkind."
Thanks, Cal. If there is a God, He will stop Dan Brown from writing another terrible novel about church stuff. That book is so terrible it actually caused me pain to read it. I would sooner flog myself than read anything else he ever writes. : )
With that said, the conspiracy theory about the odd death of John Paul I is used to great effect in the Richard Littell book THE COMPANY.
Credo in laseribus Iudaeorum ex spatio!
Well worth the Google translate. HA!
Loved your last line especially. Also, despite his faults I loved Pope Francis and am devastated by his passing. He did so much good in our world.
Thanks, Helen. I was saddened, too. But don't worry -- Trump is looking forward to going to the funeral! All is well!
Ugh...
Greg, Trump will be there to be the center of attention, a photo op. He made it very clear on his crappy social media platform many times that he hated Pope Francis. My Italian friend from Florence just reminded me that the second Trump from Argentina, Melei, called Francis “a son of a bitch, why doesn’t he already die” when he was very sick in hospital. That SOB will be there as well. Ugh!
It always wows me to see palaces built by the Catholic Church in almost every town in Europe, as well as the Americas. These palace-like churches are to be contrasted with the hovels occupied by the working man and his family.
I’m sure the church has done a lot of good in the world, but also that it has gathered too much of the wealth.
Let’s hope and pray that the next man in the Robes will be a force for good. Billserle.com
"Jesus" didn't need a building!
True, but He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and Heaven ain't no dump. : )
I know what you mean, but I actually like the cathedrals. It's one of the things I liked about Catholicism, the way they invested so much into the churches, knowing that everyone would use them. And they all smell the same!
But: yes, too much wealth, tax it!
Oh, what they never taught us in Catholic school! Thank You, Greg. Will greatly miss Pope St. Francis.
P.S. What incredible writing! Sharing with Catholic friends, fallen and devout.
Thanks, MaryPat!
The history of the popes reads as a cautionary tale on the flaws inherent in the concentration of so much power in the hands of one man. Will we ever learn? The survival of the church is dependent on the conclave’s awareness of the severe damage done by the sexual abuse scandals, misogyny, homophobia and enabling of those who abuse power. Another reactionary right wing pope who condones the types of dogma such as Project 2025 would only accelerate the already steep decline; leading to even more churches and parishes closing, and even less people in the pews. The only way to offset the disintegration is with a renewed commitment to respect and protect the powerless and poor; and accept all people, especially women, as equal in the eyes of God - to follow the teachings of Jesus.
This extremely lapsed catholic will be waiting for a real signal that it’s not just all about patriarchy, power and money, but I’m not going to hold my breath. I feel cheated that the little church my family helped build over generations is shut down to pay for legal judgments on perverted priests and coverups, and I miss the place I should have had to sit and pray in peace. I take no pleasure in saying this,I have only sorrow for the good that could have been done through the church, and the potential squandered by hubris.
The abuse was systemic, and it seems obvious that they rotated priests around to avoid scandal. Inexcusable and unforgivable. They bring out the medieval torture devices for heresy but not for child sex abuse. Priorities are all wrong.
I will go back to church when the pope is a woman, as I told my mom years ago. The only way for the Church to get with the times is to do exactly as you say. It's not hard, it's just a matter of will and doing, you know, what Jesus would do.