I recently wrote concerning Pope Francis (see here). Now that we know who his successor is (Pope Leo XIV) and given that so many have weighed in by sharing their thoughts (evidenced by my media feed being full of what different people think) on how things might or will be under the new pontiff, I thought I should add my own.

The first things to say concerns the range of views that have been offered and the second concerns how many of these tie in with the offeror’s views on the Catholic Church and their take on world events, in particular whether they are globalist or nationalist, pro DEI (see here for recent thoughts) or anti, Great Resetters or Great Awakeners or sadly as applies to many – falling for the Great Deception, and to what extent does any of this really matter.

I am not a Catholic and I definitely do not believe the Pope is a successor to St. Peter as far as papal succession goes. Yet, unlike some of my early Plymouth Brethren influencers, I do not see Roman Catholics as mainly not (real) Christian, for I have met too many Catholics who are the real deal (i.e. faithful followers of Jesus). I confess of all the views on Pope Leo, the one I eagerly looked out for is that of traditionalist, Latin mass advocate, Michael Matt of Remnant TV (see here), well aware he has been a fierce critic of Leo’s predecessor, Francis. Matt was surprisingly positive concerning the future, notwithstanding fears of more of the same, but rather leaving if to the Holy Ghost to direct matters and himself expressing a desire to pray for and work with the new Pope.

After I felt led to write this blog, I began to compile a list of quotes and links giving different views on the new Pope, as indicated by some of the memes that appear in this, my blog. I decided against sharing and commenting on much of what I found, on the basis that only a few will read these and my efforts would be better spent on doing solid Bible study rather than upsetting the likes of yet another Christian as a result of expressing my views on Christian theology and world events challenging those of the next person I get to upset.

An example of criticism is “Vatican Insider Leo Zagami who reveals how the new Pope Is a continuation of the Globalist takeover of the Catholic Church & will be used To Wage War Against President Trump!”. Then there are many, starry eyed, especially those keen on things such as helping the poor, making comments like “Congratulations! with hearts overflowing with joy, we celebrate the election of our new Holy Father, Leo XIV the 267th successor of Saint Peter! A moment of grace for the entire Catholic world—a Pope for our time, chosen by the Holy Spirit to lead us with wisdom, mercy, and courage. Let the bells ring and prayers rise as we welcome him with love and gratitude! Viva il Papa!”

One ironic view from the anti-Trump, pro Francis brigade is “The newly elected Pope Leo XIV has been branded ‘woke’ after promising to continue the teachings of Jesus Christ”, as it quotes a “far right” critic: “The last thing we need is a Pope who wants to spread peace across the world and look after poor people,” explained conservative commentator Simon Williams. “He needs to get with the program. What he should be doing is supporting big business and telling immigrants to go back to where they came from. We don’t want a leader of the Catholic Church pledging kindness and tolerance and all that woke rubbish.”

I see many examples of opposite sentiments being offered, e.g. those expressing hope for the future life of the Church and those who fear that Leo, who Francis made Cardinal two years ago being hand-picked, will lead the Catholic Church further down the road of apostacy. There are some who have critically appraised the life of Leo and what has happened behind the scenes and see something sinister, e.g. regarding paedophile cover up and unholy alliances being made in order for the Church to wield more power and influence, that cannot be dismissed. The big battle taking place in the world in and outside the Catholic Church is one between those going down the globalist, liberal to Marxist, progressive route and those taking a nationalist, conservative to far right, traditional path and with early signs of Leo more likely to align with the former group. Concerning his pledge to serve and reach out to the poor, the dispossessed and “the other”, I would like to think that good people on either side of the argument would want this to happen. 

Those in that second group will point to the fact that whoever leads the Catholics (1.2-1.5 billion of them) will affect the way the world goes because of the great power he holds, beginning with that of patronage, as well as that of the Catholic Church he oversees. The fear of some is that Leo is more aligned to Francis and the first group, citing doctrinal confusion in terms of Francis ditching traditional Catholic beliefs with statements along the lines that all roads lead to God and its ok to be gay. Some will go as far to fear this will be reinforced and added to under Leo and will further likely play into the hands of the global elite pushing Open Borders, One World government ideas and nefarious agendas coming out of the likes of the UN and WEF. It could eventually lead to killing off or enslaving much of humanity and ushering in the reign of the Antichrist.

As my title did indicate, what I have attempted to do is to share my deliberately shortened list of first impressions, whilst it is too early to come to a fully rounded view. I hope I am wrong when it comes to my sense of foreboding and as is often said in such situations – only time will tell. I would much rather that some of the positives that are embodied in some of the memes will outweigh the negatives. With my “Catholic hat”, I quote words from the first Pope and urge others (whatever their views) to act accordingly: “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel, If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” Acts 4:8-13.