THANK YOU CARDINAL MUELLER FOR YOUR DTRONG CATHOLIC IDENTITY!

 

Press title:

Müller defends Leo XIV, warns Trump: “No one should use God for their own interests”

Money byte:

“No one has the right to criticise the Pope”

The concluding point of Müller’s statement is the most direct: “It must be said clearly that no one has the right to criticise the Pope when he faithfully follows the mandate he received from Christ: to bear witness to the Gospel of peace.” The evangelical message, he concluded, “stands above the interests of politics, and God is our judge”. And no powerful man - not even the most powerful in the world - may “instrumentalise the name of God for his own interests”. Leo XIV, Müller recalled as he closed on a note of hope, opened his pontificate with the biblical greeting that has echoed for two thousand years: “Peace be with you!” That is where we must begin again. Not from Truth Social.

fr.L.C.
Silere non possum

CLARITY OF CATHOLIC IDENTITY…THIS MAKES CATHOLICISM APPEALING AND ATTRACTIVE—CONFUSION MAKES CATHOLICISM UNATTRACTIVE AND THUS AUTHORITARIANISM IS PUSHED NOT BEAUTY OF IDENTITY….

 Letter of the Holy Father Leo XIV to the Cardinals, 14.04.2026

The following is the Letter sent by the Holy Father Leo XIV to the cardinals:

 

Letter of the Holy Father

Your Eminence,

During this holy season of Easter, I wish to convey to you my heartfelt and fraternal greetings, in the hope that the peace of the risen Lord may sustain and renew our suffering world.

I likewise renew my gratitude for your participation in the Consistory last January. I greatly appreciate the work carried out in the groups, which facilitated free, concrete and spiritually fruitful exchanges, as well as the notable quality of the interventions made during the plenary. The compiled contributions constitute a resource of lasting value, which I hope will be reflected on further, and will mature through ecclesial discernment.

In my concluding remarks in January, I already referred to some elements regarding synodality that emerged from the groups. Now, I wish to focus in particular on what emerged from the groups regarding Evangelii Gaudium, especially concerning mission and the transmission of the faith.

Your contributions make it clear that this Exhortation continues to be a significant point of reference. In addition to introducing new content, it refocuses everything on the kerygma as the heart of our Christian and ecclesial identity. It was recognized as a “breath of fresh air,” capable of initiating processes of pastoral and missionary conversion — rather than producing immediate structural reforms — and thus profoundly guiding the Church’s journey.

Indeed, you emphasized how this perspective challenges the Church at every level. On a personal level, it calls every baptized person to renew their encounter with Christ, moving from a faith merely received to a faith truly lived and experienced. This journey affects the very quality of spiritual life, expressed in the primacy of prayer, in the witness that precedes words, and in the coherence between faith and life. At the community level, it calls for a shift from a pastoral approach of maintenance to one of mission. This requires communities to be living agents of the proclamation — welcoming communities that use accessible language, attentive to the quality of relationships, and capable of offering places for listening, accompaniment and healing. At the diocesan level, the responsibility of Pastors to resolutely support missionary boldness emerges clearly, ensuring that such boldness is not weighed down or stifled by organizational excesses, but is guided by a discernment that helps us to recognize what is essential.

From all this flows a profoundly unified understanding of mission, which is Christ-centered and kerygmatic. It is born of an encounter with Christ that is capable of transforming lives and spreading through attraction rather than conquest. It is an integral mission, holding in balance explicit proclamation, witness, commitment and dialogue, and yielding neither to the temptation of proselytism nor to a merely institutional mentality of preservation or expansion. Even when the Church finds herself in a minority, she is called to live with confident courage, as a small flock bringing hope to all, mindful that the aim of mission is not its own survival, but the communication of the love with which God loves the world.

Among the specific suggestions that emerged, the following deserve to be welcomed and reflected on further: the need to relaunch Evangelii Gaudium through an honest assessment of what has actually been embraced over the years and what, by contrast, remains unfamiliar or unimplemented, with particular attention to the necessary reforms of the processes of Christian initiation; the importance of valuing apostolic and pastoral visits as authentic opportunities for kerygmatic proclamation and for a growth in the quality of relationships; and the similar need to reassess the effectiveness of ecclesial communication, including at the level of the Holy See, from a more explicitly missionary perspective.

With a grateful heart, I renew my thanks for your service and contribution to the life of the Church. In regard to the forthcoming Consistory, which will take place from 26 to 27 June, more detailed information will be provided in due course to assist with the necessary preparations.

In the risen Lord, source of our hope, I send you my warmest Easter greetings.

With fraternal esteem in Christ,

From the Vatican, 12 April 2026

SAINT POPE JOHN PAUL II WAS JUST AS CRITICAL OF PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH’S WAR MONGERING, YET PRESIDENT BUSH WAS A STATESMAN ABOUT IT, ALTHOUGH HE SURELY DISAGREED WITH THE POPE…

 Here is a summary of Saint John Paul II’s peacemaking, certainly one aspect of His Holiness papacy that points to saintliness and a powerful Catholic identity:

Pope John Paul II was a steadfast opponent of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, declaring war "always a defeat for humanity". He launched a massive diplomatic effort to prevent the conflict, arguing that unilateral, preventative war lacked moral and legal justification, while arguing for diplomatic solutions via the United Nations. 

Key Aspects of Pope John Paul II’s Stance:

• Opposition to the 2003 War: The Pope actively campaigned against the invasion of Iraq, stating in early 2003 that "war is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity".
• Diplomatic Efforts: He sent special envoys, including Cardinal Pio Laghi to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush and another representative to Saddam Hussein, urging peace and adherence to international law.
• "No War" Campaign: In his 2003 "State of the World" address, he called for international dialogue and diplomacy, insisting that war should only be a last resort.
• Rejection of "Preventive War": Pope John Paul II maintained that a "preemptive" war was not considered self-defense and was unjust and illicit.
• Concerns for Humanity: He feared the war would create a catastrophic humanitarian crisis for the Iraqi people—already suffering from sanctions—and worsen relations between Christians and Muslims.
• Concerns About the 1991 Gulf War: During the 1991 Gulf War, the Pope was highly critical of the military action, calling it a "darkness" and criticizing the sanctions that devastated the Iraqi civilian population.
• Meeting with Bush (2004): Despite opposing the war, the Pope met with President Bush, and while their relationship was strained by the conflict, they did discuss the situation in Iraq and the Vatican's concerns.

And in 2023, The National Catholic Register had a retrospect on Saint John Paul’s peacemaking efforts and how President Bush received this great saint and pope. Press title for full article, money byte below:

As John Paul II Taught Us, Opposition to War Is a Pro-Life Principle

COMMENTARY: With war again rampant, what lessons should we draw from the pro-life Pope’s unflinching opposition to the Iraq War 20 years ago?

Diplomatic Campaign

John Paul II undertook a diplomatic campaign to persuade political leaders who supported the war to reconsider. He sent Cardinal Pio Laghi to meet with President George W. Bush to convey his opposition to the war. After the meeting, Cardinal Laghi stated of the war, “You might start it, and you don’t know how to end it.”

This proved painfully true. These diplomatic efforts affirmed the Church’s long-standing support of the United Nations. Laghi stated that we must “wait for the United Nations, whether they would give a green light in one way or the other.” Without waiting, the war would be unjust. 

The most powerful moment in John Paul II’s opposition to the Iraq War was his personal meeting with President Bush. The Pontiff — debilitated by Parkinson’s — publicly and on live TV told Bush that it was time to end the war as “quickly as possible with the active participation of the international community and, in particular, the United Nations organization, in order to ensure a speedy return of Iraq’s sovereignty, in conditions of security for all its people.” The president did not heed the Pope’s advice, and the war dragged on, leaving its wounds on Iraq and Syria to this very day. 

WHAT ORTHODOX CATHOLIC IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE CHURCH WOULD APPLAUD THE DENIGRATION OF THE POPE BY A SECULAR RULER? IT’S HAPPENING AS IT HAS IN THE PAST!

 I grew up in Augusta, Georgia, where Catholics are a minority and I have experienced first hand what the non-Catholic world in the south in the late 1950’s and 60’s and even today think about the pope, the Church. We were marginalized. Southern non-Catholics were not fans of the pope or his Church and often called her the Whore of Babylon.

They certainly didn’t think Catholics were going to heaven either. It was up to them through their political and religious prism to convert us to them and their way of doing things.

I am scandalized, though, when I hear Catholics more a fan of Donald Trump than of of the Pope. 

What rubbish and may God have mercy on them! To think that Catholics who should know better have become know nothings! 

If you don’t know about the Know Nothings and their current poltical party in the USA, here is an AI synopsis of the Know Nothing Party’s platform:

The Know-Nothings (1850s American Party) believed Catholic immigrants, particularly Irish and Germans, were part of a "Romanist" plot to destroy American liberty and subvert the republic under Pope Pius IX. They viewed Catholicism as incompatible with democracy, believing Catholic voters were blindly obedient to priests, and favored restricting immigration and banning Catholics from political office. 

Core Beliefs and Fears:

• Papal Conspiracy: They believed Catholic immigrants were loyal to the Pope, not the U.S. government, and intended to take over the country.
• Political Threat: They argued that Catholic voters were controlled by bishops, leading to fears of a voting bloc acting against Protestant American interests.
• Nativist Supremacy: The movement promoted the idea that the U.S. was designed exclusively for white Anglo-Saxon Protestants, seeing Catholicism as a foreign, corrupting force.
• Religious Prejudice: They labeled the Catholic Church as "anti-American" and often used violent, inflammatory rhetoric, including accusations that convent life was immoral and that Catholics were conspiring to end religious liberty. 

Actions Driven by Beliefs:

• Political Exclusion: They advocated for a "None but Americans for Office" policy, aiming to keep Catholics and immigrants from holding public office.
• Violence and Vandalism: Supporters engaged in rioting, such as the Cincinnati Riot of 1853, and the burning of Catholic churches.
• Social Ostracization: They spread propaganda aimed at creating a climate of fear and suspicion around Catholic practices and institutions.

THE SUPREME PONTIFF, HIS HOLINESS, POPE LEO XIV STATES HE IS NOT AFRAID OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IN A HIGH ALTITUDE CRUX INTERVIEW…

 PRESS TITLE FOR CRUX ARTICLE AND VIDEO OF THE HIGH ALTITUDE INTERVIEW:

En route to Africa, pope says, ‘I don’t fear Trump administration’ with EXLUSIVE Crux Now video

By Elise Ann Allen

Apr 13, 2026

|Senior Correspondent

MONEY BYTE:

“I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the church is here to do,” the pope told reporters on his brief flight to Algiers April 13.

“We are not politicians, we don’t deal with foreign (leaders?)with the same perspective he might understand it, but I do believe in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker,” he said.

Leo said he did not want to enter into debate and clarified that the statements he makes condemning war and the violation of international law “are certainly not meant as attacks on anyone,” but he said he will also “not shy away from pronouncing the message of the Gospel.”

THE ITALIAN BLOG, SILERI NON POSSUM, HEADLINE NAILS IT…

 Trump is afraid of Leo XIV; that is why he attacks him.

Power that cannot bear to be judged invariably ends up judging itself. Donald Trump may not realize it, but in the unhinged and vulgar attack he leveled against Pope Leo XIV in recent hours, he has—inadvertently—penned his own truest portrait: that of a man who conflates strength with authority, popular support with legitimacy, and the silence of others with surrender. His words—published on his social media channels like the proclamations of a street-corner demagogue—would not merit a response were they not a disturbing symptom of something far broader and more dangerous: the tendency of a certain brand of populist politics to treat every moral institution as an obstacle to be dismantled, every critical voice as an enemy to be delegitimized, and every spiritual authority as a tool to be bent to its own electoral ends.

President Trump’s modus operandi is to belittle, mock, divide and conquer, create as much chaos as possible. The following is President’s Trump’s “tweet” about Pope Leo. Should we expect that a president be a statesman and perhaps make his case as a statesman and not as the Anti-Christ?

Here’s the President’s tweet:

Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy. He talks about "fear" of the Trump Administration, but doesn't mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart. I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA. He gets it, and Leo doesn't! I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don't want a Pope who thinks it's terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country. And I don't want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I'm doing exactly what | was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History. Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn't on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican. Unfortunately, Leo's Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama Sympathizers like David Axelrod, a LOSER from the Left, who is one of those who wantedchurchgoers and clerics to be arrested. Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It's hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it's hurting the Catholic Church! 

President DONALD J. TRUMP

DIVINE MERCY AND POPE LEO: RECTIFYING THE INJUSTICES OF THE PREVIOUS PAPACY TOWARD THOSE POPE FRANCIS CALLED RIGID AND BACKWARDISTS….

Pope Leo is striving mightily to "heal the open wounds in the Church" left by Pope Francis and His Holiness' Vatican. What Pope Leo has done for the "Heralds of the Gospel" is certainly the manner in which His Holiness will heal the wound against those who faithfully followed Pope Benedict's Summorum Pontificum, which was canceled by Pope Francis in the most merciless and mean-spirited way! Pope Leo is a peacemaker! Blessed be the peacemakers! 

I don’t know much about the Heralds of the Gospel other than I use to get facebook videos of the order celebrating Mass in a rather rigidly, non rubrical choreographed manner. 

I did not know that St. Pope John Paul II, much of his papacy ignored or canceled by Pope Francis, along with Pope Benedict’s papacy, approved of the founding of this Order in South America. 

Without a lot of fanfare, once again Pope Leo XIV, aka, Pope Leo the second greatest Leo, has reversed Pope Francis—God is good!

Press the title below for a 2019 article concerning the injustice of the Francis’ Vatican toward the Heralds of the Gospel. I have a few money bytes below the title:

Heralds of the Gospel: eight years of accusations without proof

The so-called “Heralds of the Gospel case” has become, over the years, an emblematic example of the shadows left by the previous pontificate in matters of ecclesial governance. The prolonged Vatican intervention on this international association—a reality present in 78 countries and erected by John Paul II as the first of the new millennium—continues without a convincing explanation and without a single proven accusation in civil or canonical proceedings.

During Pope Francis’s tenure, the internal life of the Church—especially in Latin America—was caught in growing polarization between progressive and conservative sectors. That dynamic tainted decisions that should have been strictly legal and pastoral. In that climate of suspicion, the Heralds were subjected to a forced administration initiated in 2019 following an apostolic visitation opened in 2017. What is troubling is that, as the two sources emphasize, it has never been officially explained why the investigation was initiated, nor what the objective reasons were that led to imposing this exceptional regime on them.

Here is an AI summary of yet again another reversal of Pope Francis by Pope Leo:

The Heralds of the Gospel, a private international association of the faithful that was under Vatican commissariat and faced restrictions since 2019, are resuming priestly ordinations in April 2026. Reports indicate that under Pope Leo XIV, the de facto suspension of their ability to ordain new priests has been lifted, marking a significant shift from previous Vatican intervention. 

Key Developments in 2026

• Resumption of Ordinations: The clerical society Virgo Flos Carmeli, associated with the Heralds of the Gospel, scheduled ordinations for 31 deacons and 26 priests during the Easter Octave, with ceremonies set for April 11 and 12, 2026.
• End of "De Facto" Suspension: The upcoming ordinations officially mark the end of a suspension that has been in place since 2019, following investigations into the group regarding the "abuse of conscience and control" and strict disciplinary measures.
• Shift in Vatican Approach: Reports suggest that Pope Leo XIV, through Cardinal Damasceno, sought to "heal one of the open wounds in the Church" and end the commissioner's office (commissariat) that had been overseeing the group. 

The Heralds of the Gospel had been under investigation and subject to restrictions regarding the operation of their schools and the formation of their members since 2019, with the Vatican previously ordering the closure of their boarding schools in Brazil.