Pope Leo

[acelightning2]

The newest Pope, like his predecessor (and mentor), seems to be trying to embody Christian principles of compassion, charity, and mercy. But the current American political climate is dominated by people who were taught to consider those traits to be character flaws, shameful weaknesses that have to be overcome if a person wants to be "a success". (Ruthlessness is considered necessary for any kind of leadership.) Now, can Christ-like love for one's fellow human beings overcome the desire to dominate *everyone in the world*?

Comments

[siliconshaman]

Well, it has so far. The Romans had that philosophy, and Christianity certainly conquered them.

[acelightning2]

Aside from "classical" architecture for government buildings, there's not much left of the Roman Empire. And Christianity dominated by practicing "ruthless compassion". I hope that works against "intractible ignorance and egotism".

[mdlbear]

very long but very worthwhile thread by rahaeli on bsky. Provides lots of context about what they call the American Heresy and why Leo

also, Read Pope Leo XIV’s first homily as pope : NPR, which I haven't yet but intend to.

[acelightning2]

I managed to read the first one by using a different browser. And someone there refers to a sermon purportedly written by the leader of the Pilgrims - who were my ancestors. Human beings are supposed to make themselves as holy as possible, by obeying Scripture and praying a lot. The reason they sailed an unsuitable boat across the Atlantic was because England made them go to the Netherlands because the Pilgrims were too Puritanical (and therefore not-Anglican) for England, and the Dutch threw them out for not being Dutch enough. So they came here, stole stored food from the Wampanoag, and started the best-known of the early colonies. Since the whole point of Protestantism was that Catholicism wasn't really what Christianity was supposed to be about, I don't see how the Pilgrim sermon has any relation to what Pope Leo was trying to get at.

Incidentally, the previous Pope Leo is now known as "Saint Leo the Great" - there is a church by that name in the next town over. When my son was going to an all-boys Catholic school nearby the boys referred to it as "Saint Leo the Adequate".

[thewayne]

It's going to be interesting to see how this conundrum shakes out. Initially there was a loud outpouring that this Pope was a Republican and he was being embraced by the right, then it flipped and he was suddenly the Woke Pope.

The very basic problem is that today's political leaders don't remotely follow the teachings of Christ.

[acelightning2]

Politics today is based on ideals of ruthlessness, brutal conquest, and personal aggressiveness, traitss he was taught by his early mentors were the basis of any kind of political, economic, or personal power. As I said, Christian virtues such as mercy are considered shameful weaknesses that anybody who aspires to obtain power in the world has to suppress in order to be cruel and vicious enough to get respect for his ability to dominate. When that Episcopal woman minister ("with the lesbian hairdo") suggested that he apply Christian mercy to immigrants and minorities, he said that a President couldn't risk showing such a weakness in public. Ruthlessness helps one acquire wealth and power, but showing weakness will get one destroyed by someone more ruthless. The weak are the lawful prey of the powerful, and should just shut up and take the abuse they deserve for being weak.

I just hope that Christ-like "ruthless compassion" can stare down plain cruel ruthlessness.

[thewayne]

Amen, sister! ;-)

[acelightning2]

And when it becomes better known that Pope Leo's "New Orleans Creole" ancestry means he is racially mixed....

[thewayne]

Yeah, I thought that was pretty funny, or will be when it, as you say, becomes better known.