POPES HAVE A LOT ON THEIR PLATE AND MUST RELY ON “UNDERLINGS” TO DO THEIR JOB PROPERLY—I CAN’T IMAGINE THAT POPE LEO, A CANONIST, IS PLEASED WITH THIS IN-HOUSE INTER-DICASTERY CONUNDRUM!

 For the most part, most rank and file clergy and laity could care less about the in-fighting in the Vatican Curia or decisions made by various dicasteries until and unless it might affect them personally, like the excommunication of the FSSPX and the cancelation of Pope Benedict’s liturgical magisterium by Pope Francis with His Holiness’ cruel Traditionis Custodis. 

Initially, when I read some commentaries on the questions concerning the FSSPX’s excommunication, I thought it was just sour grapes. But this commentary certainly moves the questions front and center and it seems that Pope Leo, since it’s His Holiness’ excommunication of the bishops of the FSSPX, needs to clarify the questions raised.

And maybe like Sister Natalie Becquart, Cardinal Fernandez needs to be shown the door? Of course, what do I know?

Does the fact that Cardinal Fernandez of Argentina did not travel with Pope Leo to Argentina, while other high ranking cardinals in the Curia did, tell us that the good Cardinal’s days as the Prefect for the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith are numbered? But what do I know?

I copy this from Rorate Caeli. Press their title for the commentary:

Tensions Among Roman Dicasteries Over the Decree of SSPX Excommunication

Translated from the French original here, courtesy of FSSPX News.

The schism remains elusive, but divisions are spreading to Rome itself. Four months after the consecrations in Écône, the condemnation of the Society of Saint Pius X is becoming a headache for the Vatican.

The decree of excommunication issued in the wake of the episcopal ordinations in Écône is now causing difficulties within the Roman Curia itself. In an investigation published on October 30, 2026, by the German Catholic daily Die Tagespost, journalist Guido Horst reveals that the Dicastery for Legislative Texts has repeatedly attempted, in collaboration with the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, to resolve the legal contradictions contained in the documents of July 2. But these efforts were thwarted by a lack of cooperation from Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who seems unwilling to revise the texts published under his authority.

Read more »

THE FOUR LAST THINGS: DEATH, JUDGMENT, HEAVEN AND HELL…

 What a great Catholic question former New York Times commentator, and now CBS 60 Minutes anchor, Ross Douthat asked President Trump.

What a non-Catholic, non-Christian answer President Trump gave!

Ross Douthat understands the Catholic meaning of death, judgement, heaven and hell—particularly our particular judgement and maybe the type of thing our Lord will ask us! Of course, the Lord already knows the answer; He just wants to make sure we know the consequences to our answers, heaven or hell!

AI summary:

During a 60 Minutes interview on November 8, 2026, correspondent Ross Douthat asked President Donald Trump a hypothetical question about the afterlife and forgiveness: [1]

• The Question: Douthat asked Trump if he could enter paradise after death if it required feeling love and forgiveness for political adversaries like James Comey, Nancy Pelosi, or anyone he had expressed hatred toward over the years. 
Trump’s Answer: Trump replied, "The answer is no. I want to be honest, no," adding that saying otherwise would "not be real". He described those figures as extremely dishonest and bad for the country, stating, "I probably cannot do that, no, because I do hate some of my enemies, and I always will". 

SAVANNAH’S SUNDAY TLM WITH YOURS TRULY…

 

BEAUTIFUL SOLEMN SUNG VESPERS WITH THE POPE IN A BEAUTIFUL CATHEDRAL OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY IN BUENOS AIRES…

 The post Vatican II adjustment to the sanctuary at the Cathedral is beautifully done—kudos. 

CELEBRATION OF VESPERS WITH THE BISHOPS AND SYNODAL TEAMS OF ARGENTINA

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV

Metropolitan Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity (Buenos Aires)
Monday, 9 November 2026

Although the Vespers was for Bishops and Synodal Teams of Argentina, Pope Leo said very little about synodality. His homily was Christ-centered, Mariological and Soteriological! Thank you Pope Leo!!!

You can press the title above for the pope’s full homily. But what little His Holiness said about synodality was very orthodox!

This is it:

I would like to encourage you, together with your synodal teams, as fellow member’s disciples of the one Teacher, to continue listening to one another and discerning together what the Holy Spirit is asking of you in the light of the word of God and the Magisterium of the Church. In this way, you will be able to serve Argentina today. May he enlighten and strengthen you to translate into concrete decisions respect for the dignity of every person, the commitment to the universal destination of goods, the preferential option for the poor, and care for creation (cf. Magnifica Humanitas, 14).

2 AND 1/2 MILLION ATTEND POPE LEO’S MASS IN BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA…!

 

BEAUTIFUL PAPAL SOLEMN SUNG VESPERS AND A WONDERFUL HOMILY FOCUSED ON CHRIST AND FAITH NOT ON SYNODALITY! THANK YOU HOLY FATHER!

Press title for full homily:

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV

Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Saints Philip and James (Montevideo)
Friday, 6 November 2026

FRANK CARDINAL LEO MAKES SILERI NON POSSUM WITH PRACTICAL, DOABLE AND PROFOUNDLY CATHOLIC VISION FOR HIS EMINENCE’S ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO

The Italian Blog, Sileri non possum, has my bishop at our beatification in a headline photo:

Press title for the good Cardinal’s vision for the Archdiocese of Toronto. It is commonsense, practical, doable and most importantly, CATHOLIC!

 CATHOLIC CHURCH

Cardinal Frank Leo sets out to overhaul parish life in Toronto

Every parish will be required to have a pastoral council and carry out a thorough review of its activities. This is the first step in a seven-year pastoral plan.

HAS THE “WHERE PETER IS” BLOG, AKA, “WHERE POPE FRANCIS WAS” APOLOGIZED TO THE NEW PREFECT FOR THE DICASTERY OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR BEING SO NEGATIVE AND CONTRARY TOWARDS EWTN? LET US PRAY THEY WILL REPENT!

 The Pope also took the opportunity to formally introduce the new Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, the former EWTN chief executive, Maria Montserrat “Montse” Alvarado, someone “that many of you already know.” She had “joined the Vatican team of the Holy See” on November 1 to take on “this challenging role as Prefect of Communications,” succeeding Paolo Ruffini, “who has completed his term of service.” He praised her “wonderful experience,” “creativity,” “life and liveliness,” saying she would accompany them on the visit and help the Vatican and the Pope “in the very important dimension of communication.”

The Pope formally introduced the new Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, Maria Montserrat Alvarado   (Vatican Media)

But the Pope Francis era “Where Peter Is” was quite negative about EWTN. I’m glad we have a “Where Peter Is” in Pope Leo that appreciates EWTN and its chief executive officer no the Prefect for the Dicastery of Communication.

An AI summary of Where Peter Is, Aka, Where Pope Francis Was attitude toward Pope Leo’s pick:

The blog Where Peter Is has frequently criticized the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), describing it as a voice of opposition to Pope Francis and accusing it of undermining papal authority. [1, 2]

Key criticisms and themes published on the site regarding EWTN include:

Opposition to the Pope: Contributors have characterized EWTN as "the voice of opposition to the pope," arguing that the network and programs like The World Over (hosted by Raymond Arroyo) regularly align with right-wing political causes and Republican party positions over teachings or guidance from the Church and Pope Francis. [1]
Ignoring or "Screening Out" Papal Teachings: The blog has accused EWTN of "screening out the papacy" when papal statements or initiatives challenge the network's preferred political or ideological narratives—such as ignoring or giving minimal coverage to major papal documents and books like Let Us Dream. [1]
Fostering Division and "Post-Truth" Media: Articles on the site have accused EWTN of engaging in "media pathologies," twisting facts to suit ideological prejudices, enabling anti-Francis campaigns (such as Archbishop Viganò's 2018 allegations), and poisoning dialogue and communication within the Catholic Church. [1]
Stewardship of Catholic Media: While commenting on broader Catholic media responsibilities, the blog maintains its stance of defending the integrity of Church tradition and critiquing what its writers view as disloyalty or defamation from platforms operating under the Catholic umbrella. [1]

You can read more directly on the Where Peter Is EWTN Archive. [1]

THE POPE LEO PONTIFICATE AND CONTINUING TO READ THE TEA LEAFS AND LISTENING TO VATICAN GOSSIP

 I noticed Pope Leo’s replacement of Sister Natalie Becquart and wondered what it meant, but I felt it was significant. Until now it was under reported or went unnoticed. 

But it tells us something about Pope Leo’s understanding of synodality which differs from Cardinal Grech and His Eminence’s right hand woman, Sister Natalie. She’s gone now and unceremoniously.

I used to complain about anything and any document coming the the Synodal way. Usually no mention of God, Father, Son or Holy Spirit was made; nothing about salvation, sin and redemption; nothing about the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Communion of Saints and Angels—nothing!

And what Sister Natalie wrote was often a word salad that would make Kamala Harris proud. 

Serre Verweij writes this about Sister Natalie:

Pope Leo unexpectedly ended Sister Nathalie Becquart’s tenure undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops and appointed both a replacement for her and for Marín de San Martín, who had been given a different position on 12 March with his position vacant since. Jesuit Father Giacomo Costa and Salesian Sister Elena Massimi were appointed as the new undersecretaries. This preserves the current status quo of one female religious and one male religious priest as undersecretaries. 

Nathalie Becquart was an openly activist progressive and an important ally of Cardinal Grech. Her removal is the first real strike taken at the core liberal block. At the same time Father Costa is about as liberal as Becquart. He has been involved in several synods since 2017 as a Special Secretary, steering so called experts and topics dealt with and was officially made Consultor in 2019. Through these roles he inserted a powerful behind the scenes influence promoting LGBT talking points amongst other things. His new role ironically forces him more into the open and requires accountability, and decreases his influence on the experts and content of synodal assemblies themselves. Whether this is a case of being kicked upstairs remains to be seen.


Sister Massimi appears to be a generic centrist outsider concerned with church music. She has rejected relativism in music and quoted Cardinal Ratzinger, yet paid very basic lip service to Traditionis Custodes when meeting with Francis. She has praised lay ministries involving women as well as synodality, but spoke of healthy progress within tradition.

Overall these appointments fit a pattern of Pope Leo only removing very select liberal figures from the Vatican institutions they dominate, internally promoting some others but refusing to bring fresh progressives into Rome. Yet, the new figures he does appoint to these institutions for now appear to be harmless centrists. 

Serre Verweij has a long, but very interesting gossip piece which I copy from Rorate Caeli. Press the title for the full commentary—very interesting:

The Latin Mass and the Struggle for Power in the Vatican

by Serre Verweij

When Pope Leo was elected, many traditionalists were initially cautious or did not know what to expect. Then, in his first real interview (with Crux), Pope Leo declined to stand behind Traditionis Custodes; next, his nuncio in the United Kingdom told bishops that they could request exemptions from Traditionis Custodes and that these would be granted automatically, while the persecution of traditionalist religious communities and of bishops who refused to enforce Custodes fizzled out.

Read more »

REQUIEM MASS FROM SAINT PETER’S—MARVELOUS AND SO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT MOST CATHOLICS EXPERIENCE AND WANT—WHY OH LORD, WHY?????

I am happy to see, too, that the central crucifix is on the Altar of the Chair, rather than to its side. I am wondering if Archbishop Viola desires this compared to all the dang experimentations we have see with the placement of the crucifix at papal Masses--ugh!

And of course the Bishop of Knoxville “ville” condemn the post Mass Marian Prayer. He will tell the pope that extra prayers at the end of Mass are verboten!

Here’s that prayer:

This Requiem Mass celebrated by Pope Leo XIV is the template of what Requiem Masses should be but aren’t and not by a long shot! 

My final wishes include that my Requiem Mass, while primarily in English will have the Proper Latin Chants for the Introit, Offertory and Communion antiphons. As I don’t expect a lot of people at my Requiem, if there is time during Communion, I’d like to hear Panis Angelicus and at the Offertory, Ave Maria. The recessional will be “In Paradisuum” and nothing else.

The Mass parts will be the Jubilatio Deo Mass.

I have instructed my bishop not to preach about me but about Jesus Christ and how He redeems us. Preach the Gospel, dagnabit !

The rest of the Mass will be in English—no second reading after the Responsorial Psalm and please God, I’ll die during Lent thus there won’t be an Alleluia sung—but one of the Lenten Acclamations. 

If I were to reform the so-called reformed Bugnini Requiem, I would recover no Alleluias for the Requiem and the Requeim Agnus Dei, with its Requiem endings. And when incense is used, it is only used at the offertory and the Final Commendation, not at the beginning or the Gospel. 

After watching the Papal Requiem, why, oh why, in the Name of God and all that is Holy, would anyone want those godawful “You-Who Song”, Be Not Afraid and the Protestant How Great Thou Art”? Songs?Why Oh Lord, why?

A RORATE CAELI COMMENTARY POINTS OUT THE FACT THAT I WAS RIGHT WHEN I SAID WEEKS AGO, THAT BISHOP SCHNEIDER’S SELECTION AS THE CELEBRANT FOR THE TLM AT THE SUMMORUM PONTIFICUM PILGRIMAGE MORE THAN LIKILY LED TO THAT MASS’S CANCELATION AT ST. PETERS AS WELL AS THEIR HOPED-FOR PROCESSION INTO SAINT PETER’S! VINDICATION IS MINE!

 I wrote HERE that the major reason this year’s Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage was sidelined by the Vatican, i.e. Pope Leo, was because of Bishop Schneider who has aligned himself too closely with the schismatic FSSPX.

He seems to like those who tend towards schism. Unfortunately, Bishop Schneider has personally touched my former parish in the Diocese of Savannah, as well as my diocese there and also a diocese in Florida. Bishop Schneider added fuel to the small, very small fire of schism tending ideologies. 

If a Vatican department, like Ecclesia Dei, were in charge of TLMer’s as they once were, this debacle would not have happened. A Cardinal in good standing would have been chosen by that department to be the celebrant and leader of events that traditionalists might have in Rome and at Saint Peters!

Press title for Rorate Caeli commentary:

Considerations on the Traditional Pilgrimage to Rome -- by Roberto de Mattei

Considerations Sine Ira et Studio on the Ad Petri Sedem Pilgrimage

Roberto de Mattei

Now that the polemics that arose in the heat of the moment have settled, let us attempt to offer some dispassionate considerations, sine ira et studio, as the Romans used to say, on the fifteenth Peregrinatio ad Petri Sedem, held in Rome from October 23 to 25, 2026.

Read more »

Money byte from commentary:

On the other hand, the centrality which the Coetus Internationalis attributed to Bishop Athanasius Schneider, confirmed as the principal celebrant of the pilgrimage, surely offered the Secretariat of State an argument for stiffening its position. The public statements of the Auxiliary Bishop of Astana in favor of the Society of Saint Pius X in fact gave his presence a prominence that went beyond the liturgical function. Bishop Schneider spoke out on the Écône consecrations on March 9 and June 4, 2026 and, after the event, again on August 17. In the three interventions he maintained a consistent position, always supporting the reasons of the Society and the wrongs of the Vatican. On March 9, he asked the Pope to authorize the consecrations even before the resolution of the doctrinal controversies, asserting that the lack of a mandate would not make them schismatic. On June 4, he presented the Society as a providential help for the Church and a possible excommunication as a grave pastoral error. On August 17, he sought to offer a theological and moral justification for the act performed, appealing to the primacy of divine law over ecclesiastical norms. In a subsequent interview on October 13, ten days before the pilgrimage, the bishop reiterated that "with the passing of history, the contribution of Archbishop Lefebvre and the Society of Saint Pius X will later be regarded as beneficial for the whole Church." His position leaves no room for misunderstanding.

The organizers were careful to specify that the faithful gathered in Rome are not "Lefebvrians." But the episcopal face of the pilgrimage was that of a bishop favorable to the Society of Saint Pius X in its conflict with Rome.

It is true that Bishop Schneider had been designated as celebrant many months before the episcopal consecrations of 2026. His subsequent statements should, however, have prompted the organizers to reflect on whether it was advisable to confirm that assignment. Bishop Schneider himself could have considered stepping back, leaving to another bishop the leadership of the pilgrimage, rather than playing the role of guide of the Populus Summorum Pontificum during the three Roman days.

The prevailing chaos does not annul the principle of causality, according to which every act has consequences. Bishop Schneider certainly has the right to set forth his own judgments. The organizers, however, bear in turn the responsibility to ask themselves whether those judgments are compatible with the representative function he is called to fulfill.

WHILE I AM NORMALLY PUT OFF BY LIFESITE NEWS AND ITS RIGHTWING CATHOLIC HETERODOXY, THIS BRIEF COMMENTARY SURPRISINGLY HITS THE NAIL ON THE HEAD

Press Lifesite title for full commentary:

Worst GOP election since 1974: what you need to know

Democrats will enter office next year with at least 54 U.S. Senate seats and a 241-seat majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

MY CATHOLIC, NON POLITICAL, TAKE ON ALL OF THIS: 

 There is one person and one group to blame for the blue tsunami the USA just experienced. Let me start with the one person responsible. That is the president. He comes across as mean-spirited. When a reporter asked him a question outside of Air Force One over the weekend, a question the president didn’t like, President Trump made an ad holmium attack on the reporter, resorted to his typical and sophomoric name calling which included calling him fat.

It went viral.  It was a horrible thing that anyone would do, let alone the president of the United States. But we have become accustomed to it, or maybe not! I think the election results indicate that the majority of democrats, republicans and independents want statesmanship from their elected figures, and the president of the USA should be leading the way. 

 Another recent event, gone viral, has to do with immigration and the tactics of ICE. While I don’t encourage or support anyone blocking law enforcement with their autos or bodies, there are better ways to deal with this problem than law enforcement using brut force. The most recent brut force tactic by ICE occurred this week, when a woman used her body to stop a law enforcement vehicle from leaving. An ICE agent, a large man, went up to her, shoved her out of the way causing her to fall forcefully to the ground. 

 I was taught that men don’t treat women that way. And in that situation, a more gentle removal of the woman could have occured. The optics did not work in Republicanss’ favor, to say the least.

 Senator Elect Talirico in an interview given today, November 4, to Fox News, says he wants to work with President Trump on immigration. He praised him for closing the country to illegal immigration. And even made a distinction between what Trump has accomplished in this regard, compared to Biden. He praised Trump. But then he added one more thing that I have been saying and praying for, that we need to make a way to citizenship for all those illegals various administrations have allowed to enter this country and for decades, many, if not most, having made something of themselves in this country, work hard and are law abiding, apart from illegally entering. Many of them have been here for years and decades and making life in the USA better for everyone. Now they live in fear that they can be deported in the most cruel way possible. 

What Senator Elect Talirico proposed is commonsense and goodwill that most Americans would like to see. 

 My final comment has to do with those who support President Trump, not having the ability or desire to call him out on his worse traits, especially his verbal assaults on those he perceives as opposed to him. They are spineless sycophants. And when President Trump disrespected Pope Leo XIV there were few Republican Catholics calling that out! Disgraceful. 

And what the Lifesite commentary says in its last paragraph sums it up: 

 While various factions have already started advancing dueling explanations and excuses, exit polls confirm longstanding expectations that Republicans would be rebuked for President Donald Trump’s overall disapproved job performance, which exacerbated the public’s affordability frustrations between his tariff policies and the spike in oil prices stemming from the Iran War, drove widespread perceptions he was more fixated on enriching himself and allies and personal projects such as the White House ballroom, and even turned the public against him on his most durable issue, immigration, with controversial deportation tactics.