The process for “habemus papam” was relatively short in duration, but the election was surprising unless one had insider information and even then. The conclave is as secretive as the word conclave (with a key) implies with little obvious electioneering.
Anyone who suggests what Pope Leo XIV will do during his tenure is not being honest. This is not the same Catholic altar boy from Chicago. This is the spiritual leader of more than one billion people, men, women, children, old and young, of diverse political and sexual orientations. The position changes people and has almost invariably in the past.
I am a practicing Catholic albeit a discerning or even critical one. Not everything the Pope says is dogma. Nor is it necessarily correct. Many times the leader of the Church because he represents diverse communities will delve into matters that place him on the wrong side of history or even the teachings of Christ as to good and evil with no capacity to discern. That was very often Pope Francis’ problem whether due to poor advice or his own simplicity and lack of information. The role of the Holy Father is to recognize the truth, distinguish between good and evil and manifestly condemn evil by naming it and advocating if not working against it.
While Pope Francis was very much sensitive to humanity and love for all of God’s children, he often fell victim to political calculations which he should not have done. Because he was the Holy Father many in the Church considered his words and deeds to be infallible when the Church is clear that the Holy Father is infallible only in matters of faith. Unfortunately, the average person falls victim to the position. My one wish from Pope Leo XIV is that he follow his predecessor in humanity but recognize his own human intellectual frailties.
In any event the election of an American as Pope is symbolic for me, particularly in this day and age. America is on the verge of becoming a pariah because of the words and deeds of one man who until the election of the new Pope was arguably the single most important American in the world and even more important in his own mind. Now that an American is the Holy Father, Pope Leo’s humanity, spirituality, and love should overcome and replace the current image of the ugly American, who is an imperialist, a predator, and yes, a felon.
Some twenty years ago I travelled to Bulgaria to meet with the Ukrainian community as well as Bulgarian officials. By chance I happened to meet with a Bulgarian attorney who after being told that I was his professional counterpart from America, insisted on relaying his view of America. He said that Bulgaria is now an ally of the United States so we should beware. I asked why and he replied, because Bulgarian alliances are mostly doomed. Bulgaria was an ally of the Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. None of these exists today. I laughed.
In retrospect he did foresee the demise of the American empire. Unless you live in the hills of Kentucky, from where J.D. Vance’s family comes and read nothing but the local herald, you must be aware that America today lacks respect throughout the world.
Not immediately of its own volition, but fearing a Russian exploitation of this void, the leading countries of Europe have stepped up, not only in defense of Ukraine, but in an attempt to make
Europe self-sufficient and capable of defending itself. America’s decline was a dark cloud to a large degree self-formed but there is a silver lining. This silver lining is after all better for Ukraine because Ukraine is an integral part of the European community in history and culture.
The recent ridiculous parody of force in Moscow was shunned by the European community except for the prime minister of Slovakia and president of Serbia. No one else from Europe attended. Prime Minister Fico of Slovakia has significant internal opposition in Slovakia as does the President of Serbia. Serbia is not a member of the EU and certainly this escapade by its President will not help in that endeavor. Romania will be holding a second and final round of its Presidential election. The leader in the first round was a pro-Russian extremist, in fact, some consider him an agent of Russia, And then there is Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary whose term is long overdue.
These are all issues that Europe needs to address, but the message from Europe is that it is ready to take on the mantle of world leadership.
The message for Americans is that world leadership comes and goes. In the interim America needs to address its own Constitutional crises.
May 10, 2025 Askold Lozynskyj