During World War II and the Cold War, we were reminded that Popes can make a difference. For better or worse. Pope Pius XII was no help during the Holocaust; Polish native John Paul II was a key rallying force against the spread of Soviet communism. The latter helped galvanize anti-Soviet, Polish resistance that complemented the Solidarity movement of Lech Walesa. For JP II, it was papal and personal.
Now there’s an American pontiff, Pope Leo XIV. His track record on issues such as gender are not particularly progressive, but he is in line with his predecessor, Pope Francis, when it comes to advocating on behalf of migrants and the downtrodden. He found his missionary mindset and voice in Peru—under an authoritarian president. Frontline pastoral work became his Catholic wheelhouse. He was more caring than charismatic, but it helped that he was multi-lingual and empathetic. He was also made Cardinal Robert Provost by his progressive predecessor, Pope Francis.
Popes can stand up to autocrats, including xenophobic, nativistic sorts who treat non-white immigrants like criminals. Hopefully, President Trump will discover that an American Pope with humanitarian, missionary zeal for the poor and forlorn, can’t be ignored or treated like some spineless, career-first GOPster. Pope Leo’s attention to the dignity of the worker—as well as the unemployed—has appeal that transcends political divides. Presumably Trump already knows that before becoming Pope, Cardinal Robert Provost’s social media account shared criticisms of the Trump Administration’s positions on immigration.
This U.S. president has a bully pulpit that appeals to the worst in us. The Pope has a papal pulpit that appeals to our better angels. You go, Father Bob. Papal and personal. The whole world is watching—not just its 1.4 billion Catholics that include VP JD Vance.