TWO MORE WONDERFUL REVERSALS OF POPE FRANCIS BY POPE LEO AND POPE LEO IS NOT “REMORSEFUL”…

The Morse returns to the papal cope!

A morse is the traditional term for the large, often highly decorative, clasp or buckle used to fasten the front of a liturgical cope at the chest. These functional yet ornate fasteners are typically made of metal (gold or silver), often adorned with jewels or embroidery, and ensure the garment remains secure.

And at the Final Blessing of the Catholic Vespers with an ecumenical entourage, Pope Leo reversed Pope Francis custom of having non Catholic clergy joining him in the blessing.

His Holiness, Pope Leo, alone offered the Apostolic Blessing with the attached indulgences!

TRUTH AND DEESCALATION ARE NEEDED THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN LIFE…

What is happening in Minneapolis reminds me of what happened at Kent State 56 years ago in 1970. Then university students were protesting on campus the escalation of the Vietnam War. The National Guard murdered four students and wounded nine more. Insanity!

 I have written from the beginning of ICE operations that what should have occurred first was a pathway for those here who are undocumented or illegally to become citizens based upon the fact they were allowed entry by the government and since their entrance they have contributed to their communities. 

Only then should there have been action to deal with those with serious crimes here or from their place of origin.

Police state actions never end well. These inflame citizens’ passions and lead to what we are seeing in Minneapolis.

I have seen three angles of what happened to the protestor on Saturday. Initially he was going to the aid of a woman shoved to the ground by an ICE agent.

There is no evidence that Alex Pretti (RIP) was brandishing his gun or reaching for it.

What happened to him is a travesty and the escalation was by ICE not by him. 

What I see is like an abortion. It is anti-life. But worse, lies by the administration in Washington  about what we are seeing are incredible. 

Catholics must stand on the side of truth, not lies. We must stand on the side of life and treating each other with dignity and respect. 

POPE LEO’S VERY GOOD EXHORTATION ON FAKE IMAGES AND AI IN GENERAL

 All of us are seeing images, hearing voices and watching videos of famous and not so famous people being presented as they are but in fact are fake AI images and video. For me, I don’t trust anything anymore as I cannot always tell was is real and what is fake.

Pope Leo has fallen victim to this many times, not only with images but also voices that sound like him but aren’t.

Below this fake image of Pope Leo is a Vatican New summary of the Pope’s exhortation:

Pope Leo: Technology must serve the human person, not replace it

In his message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Leo XIV highlights the importance of ensuring that technological innovation, particularly artificial intelligence, serves the human person rather than replacing or diminishing human dignity. 

Vatican News

Face and voice are unique traits of every person and form the foundation of human identity and relationships. Reflecting on this truth, Pope Leo XIV introduces his Message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, which will be celebrated on 17 May 2026, with a focus on digital communication and artificial intelligence, highlighting the need to protect human dignity in an age increasingly shaped by technological innovation.

Human beings, the Pope recalls, are created in the image and likeness of God and called into relationship through the Word. Safeguarding faces and voices, therefore, means protecting the divine imprint present in each person and upholding the irreplaceable vocation of every human life.

The anthropological challenge of technology

The Pope warns that digital technologies, especially artificial intelligence systems capable of simulating voices, faces, and emotions, risk altering essential dimensions of human communication.

The challenge, he stresses, is not primarily technological but anthropological; it is a matter of protecting human identity and authentic relationships.

He draws attention to the impact of social media algorithms that prioritise rapid emotional reactions over reflection, weakening critical thinking and fostering social polarisation.

The growing reliance on artificial intelligence for information, creativity, and decision-making, he adds, also risks diminishing analytical skills, imagination, and personal responsibility.

Reality, simulation, and social impact

Pope Leo highlights the difficulty of distinguishing between reality and simulation in digital environments, where automated agents and chatbots can influence public debate and individual choices, shaping emotional responses and personal interactions.

Such dynamics, he notes, may affect not only individuals but also social and cultural life.

Responsibility, cooperation, and education

To address these challenges, the Pope identifies responsibility, cooperation, and education as essential pillars. Technology developers, political authorities, media professionals, and educators are called to promote transparency, safeguard human dignity, and ensure the integrity of information.

Collaboration among institutions and sectors, he writes, is required to guide digital innovation toward the common good.

Media literacy and digital awareness

Finally, Pope Leo underlines the importance of education in media, information, and artificial intelligence literacy, fostering critical awareness, protecting personal identity, and supporting a responsible culture of communication.

Renewed care for face and voice, he concludes, remains central to preserving the human dimension of communication and orienting technological progress to the service of the human person.

REPENTING OF PRINTING NEWS THAT HASN’T HAPPENED YET BUT WILL; AND GIVING THANKS FOR POPE LEO—ARCHBISHOP GAINSWAIN…

Although Pope Leo has never lived in the Vatican Motel 6, His Holiness hasn’t yet moved into the Apostolic Palace as it is still undergoing major renovations. That is the reason why they have left the lights on.

The Vatican clarified that when Pope Leo moves in, everyone will be duly notified, including yours truly. 

And this is not fake news or news from the future that hasn’t happened yet from the Herald:

It is little wonder, therefore, that Archbishop Georg Gänswein features once again in a Vatican dispatch, having praised Leo this week for ushering in “a positive change in the atmosphere, which I believe is important because the difficulties that existed have truly taken on a completely new, positive impact through the change of pontificate”.

“Normality is slowly returning,” said Benedict XVI’s former secretary. “Pope Leo has simply set some accents that are not new, but which were completely ignored in recent years.”

GREAT VERY RECENT PHOTOS OF MACON’S SAINT JOSEPH CHURCH WITH ITS MINIMIZED DOUBLE ALTARS AND THE ALTAR RAILING I HAD REMOVED IN 2004 AND RESTORED IN 2015, AND USED TODAY FOR KNEELING OR STANDING COMMUNICANTS! I PRAY AND HOPE THE FUTURE DOESN’T HAVE A BISHOP MARTIN TYPE IN STORE FOR THE DIOCESE OF SAVANNAH!

 

I always loved that the altar railing below matched the one above. The one above was never removed…

REMOVING WATCHES, JEWELRY AND RINGS TO CELEBRATE MASS???

 I don’t wear rings or bracelets at Mass or elsewhere. But when I have a wristwatch on, I don’t take it off for Mass. 

I am not sure about this, but prior to the Bugnini Missal, priests removed their watches for the celebration of Mass. Was it codified to do so or just a custom? 

On Friday, I arrived at Saint Gregory the Great Church in Bluffton, SC at about 11:15 for their 11:30 AM Confessions and 12:15 PM Mass. 

A funeral was in progress and at the end. When I went into the sacristy, I saw that the parish’s newly ordained Parochial Vicar had left his apple wristwatch there. He did not wear it for Mass. And I am not wearing his Apple Watch now. 

But, should priests remove wristwatches, bracelets, rings, nose piercings, earrings and the like to celebrate Mass? 

Of course, bishops should wear their episcopal ring. That’s required. 

I do wear cuff links!

A SCREENSHOT SAYS IT ALL…

 After Vatican II, and recklessly so, liturgical items that were donated by the laity through their sacrifice and hard earned money, were ripped out of churches and replaced with kitsch from catalogues. 

The Bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte has brought this grotesque and scandalous insensitivity to a new level.

This is a screenshot from “X” formerly known as Twitter:

ELIMINATING THE DOUBLE ALTAR LOOK IN AN HISTORIC CHURCH—ONE COMPLETELY DOING SO; THE OTHER A GOOD PARTIAL WAY TO DO SO!

In renovating or restoring a historic Catholic Church, the goal is to eliminate or minimize the double altar look of the post-Vatican II theology.

At the Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Augusta, Georgia, we solved the problem of double altars by slicing the altar part of the once one-piece altar/reredos, away from the reredos. In fact, and this was complicated, there was a great deal of wasted space behind the reredos. Thus the entire altar was dismantled, and the reredos “re-mantled” but pushed back toward the back wall and the altar was sliced away from the reredos with plenty of room between the altar and reredos and also with the option of celebrating Mass easily either ad orientem or facing the nave. 

In fact, I celebrated an ad orientem Bugnini Mass in the 1990’s the first time such was done in the Diocese of Savannah since Vatican II! I was way, way, way ahead of my time!

At Saint Joseph Church in Macon, Georgia, it was not possible to slice the altar-table away from its reredos and pull it forward as was done in Augusta. To do so would have destabilized the reredos possibly causing it to collapse forward and kill yours truly!

So the plan was to minimize the double-altar look. We elevated the entire sanctuary so that the old main altar would not be four steps up from the main floor of the sanctuary, but only one step up. Thus the new main altar is only one step lower than the old main altar, whereas previously the older free-standing altar was four steps below the old high altar. 

What was accomplished by this is that from the nave, the new free standing altar appears to be the only altar and is not overwhelmed by the older altar.

This isn’t the best solution in general, but in this case it was the best and only solution possible to make it look like that there is only one altar when in realty there are two:

I CONTINUE TO LAMENT, LAMENT, I TELL YOU, THAT THE SQUEAKY WHEEL OF THOSE ADVOCATING FOR THE LIBERAL CELEBRATION OF THE TLM IS DROWNING OUT THE NEED FOR THE BUGNINI MASS TO BE CELEBRATED WITH THE SAME REVERENCE AND ETHOS AS THE TLM EVEN IF ALL VERNACULAR!

If I had a choice between which should be mandated, ad orientem or kneeling for Holy Communion to recover in the Bugnini Mass the same reverence and ethos of the TLM, I would choose kneeling for Holy Communion. 

With that said, though, apart from kneeling or ad orientem, how could the Bugnini Mass be more reverent and approximate the reverence of the TLM?

1. Chant the Propers, preferebly in Latin Gregorian Chant. Doing this follows Vatican II explicitly, giving pride of place to Gregorian Chant and maintaining, at least for the Propers, Latin!

2. The priest and congregation reads the black print and follows the red—no improvisation whatsoever, especially at the Introductory Rite, even if any or all the options are used. 

3. The Introductory Rite, the Credo and Intercessions and Concluding Rite takes place at the chair, not the altar. 

4. Sunday best is required for lectors or an alb! The same for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion!

5. After the Intercessions, the chalice and paten covered with veil and burse, placed on the altar’s center prior to Mass, is unveiled, the corporal is placed at the center of the altar and the Roman Missal and other items needed for the Holy Eucharist are placed on the altar and the offerings for the Mass, bread and wine, are brought in procession to the priest and then brought to the altar.

6. All options are permissible from various prefaces to Eucharistic Prayers and all prayers are prayed without making the prayers look like they are being read to the congregation!

7. If the common chalice, pandemic causing as they may be, are used, the choreography of the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must be rehearsed and perfected so that Communion time and getting the right sacred things to the right people doesn’t look like a scene from a movie with the Keystone Cops!!!

If the Bugnini Mass is one expression of the two expressions of the one Roman Rite, then make sure the Bugnini Mass is celebrated as it should be just as the TLM should be celebrated as it should be! But the one Roman Rite’s reverence and ethos should be the same in both!!!!

THE STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL NEW CHURCH OF SAINT CATHERINE, IN WAKE FOREST, NORTH CAROLINA..EXCEPT!!!

Thank God that Wake Forest is in the Diocese of Raleigh and not Charlotte, as the new church of Saint Catherine has a beautiful altar railing which I presume they use for Holy Communion. Communicants can stand or kneel at the full length of the railing as they find their unity, not in posture, but in the Lord Jesus received worthily in Holy Communion.   

You can view all the glorious photos, along with a commentary, at “Liturgical Arts’ Journal” by pressing HERE. 

But I want to focus on what is the fly in the ointment for me. I continue to be appalled, appalled I tell you, that diocesan liturgical commissions, along with their bishops, allow double altars in new construction. I am appalled, appalled, I tell you!

With the photos above, there are two solutions that could have been used, but neither were, unfortunately. One solution, given the liturgical chaos we continue to live, is less plausible than the other.

The less plausible is to simply have the one piece back altar and allow Mass ad orientem. We did it that way for the majority of the 2,000 years of the Catholic Church! What’s the big deal?

The more plausible solution, if one must have a free-standing altar, the altar part of that one piece altar, could have been separated from the reredos and pulled forward for a freestanding altar that could be used for Mass facing ad orientem or toward the nave. 

Having two altars in a new church makes no liturgical sense and indeed goes against the liturgical law as I understand it.

And then my real pet peeve! No floral arrangements in front of the altar! Just don’t do it! Why do it? Who thinks this helps highlight the altar and its beauty. Floral arrangements should frame and highlight the altar not hide it!!!!! And all that is really needed, in the case of noble simplicity, are two nice arrangements on either side of the reredos/tabernacle! That’s it. Why stick a floral arrangements in front of the altar? Why? Oh why!

REQUIESCAT IN PACEM JOHN ALLEN

CRUX EDITOR, VETERAN VATICAN JOURNALIST JOHN ALLEN LOSES BATTLE WITH CANCER

Back in the day when John Allen worked for the NcR, he was quite the progressive. But after Pope Benedict was elected, he shifted towards orthodoxy especially when Evangelical Catholicism was taking off. 

I used to email him to offer comments and he always kindly responded. I loved his style of writing, though, no matter which way he leaned. 

INTERESTING DAY OF MEETINGS FOR THE HOLY FATHER, NO?

AVID READER FROM THE DIOCESE OF BOGOR,INDONESIA FILLS IN THE DETAILS ABOUT THEIR BISHOP’S “RESIGNATION”…

This is a comment from another post by Avid Reader of Bogor, Indonesia about this link:

https://www.ucanews.com/amp/indonesian-bishop-who-renounced-red-hat-resigns-over-conflict/111639

What Avid Reader describes in their diocese, seems to be happening in a particular diocese in my very own province and a few others in the USA. I wonder if what happened in Bogor is a warning shot to others?

Here’s Avid Reader’s comment:

Let me introduce myself. I am a member of the faithful of the Diocese of Bogor and this report is so far the most comprehensive i have found online and is factual to the confusion that is happening on the ground. To us the lay faithful of the Diocese, we have known for some time on the power struggles within the Diocese's governing body but we are still shocked over the Bishop's decision to step down.

As mentioned in the article, the first signs of real and outwards division within the diocese occured when Father Natet, the rector of the Diocese of Bogor's St. Peter & Paul's seminary denounced the bishop in an open letter following the installation of a new Curia (which oddly occured in a private daily Mass without prior announcements) on December 8th 2025, the Diocese's anniversary. This was followed by an investigation involving the Nunciature and the Bishop of Bandung, Mgr. Anton, who is also currently the head of the Indonesian Bishop's conference. This investigation culminated in the dissolution of the new Curia and the reinstatement of the old curia on December 22nd 2025. On that same day, Mgr. Paskalis also published an open letter to the diocese's faithful alleging of "wolves" circling around (https://www.instagram.com/p/DSrdtzmD98X/?igsh=anhmYXNib25wZm96 ).

Last week (as we later found out) Mgr. Paskalis went to the Vatican to explain the allegations around him as a result of the previous investigation. It was at this meeting, Mgr. Paskalis was given an option to stand down as Bishop of Bogor to preserve the peace, as for the last month the clergy of the diocese has been visibly divided on the bishop. As such he offered his resignation which was accepted and announced last monday (https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTsbMvPj8sy/?igsh=MWZjaWNkaTBmbWk0Mg== )

IT IS SO COOL WHEN I WIN MY BETS! ANOTHER GRAND REVERSAL OF POPE FRANCIS BY POPE LEO—YOU KNOW, HIS HOLINESS LOOKS LIKE POPE BENEDICT IF YOU LOOK AT HOW HIS HOLINESS DRESSES…

 This morning at the Vatican! Aww…..

WOW! CONFRONTING THE GERMAN SCHISM AND ITS WORLDWIDE CONTAGION—IS THIS THE WORK OF HIS HOLINESS, POPE LEO XIV????

 THIS IS GOOD NEWS! Below the copied news story I reprint from Catholic News World, I print an Artificial Intelligence summary that makes clear Pope Leo has initiated this stunningly good news! 

BREAKING Head of Germany's Catholic Bishops' Conference Resigns - Bishop Georg Bätzing to Step Down

January 19, 2026

Bishop Georg Bätzing to Step Down as Head of German Bishops' Conference

BONN – In a move that has surprised the Catholic community, Bishop Georg Bätzing has announced he will not seek a second term as chairman of the German Bishops' Conference (DBK). The German Bishops' Conference needs a new chairman. Bishop Georg Bätzing is not seeking a second term. A successor will be sought by the end of February.

Bätzing, age 64, has led the conference since March 2020, when he succeeded Cardinal Reinhard Marx. His decision means the DBK will elect a new leader during its upcoming plenary assembly in Würzburg, scheduled for February 23–26, 2026.

---

A Call for New Leadership

In a personal letter addressed to his fellow bishops, the Bishop of Limburg explained that his decision came after "careful consideration." He chose to announce his departure now to allow the conference sufficient time to deliberate on a successor before the February vote.

Key highlights from his statement:

• The Transition: Bätzing believes it is time to place the leadership of the DBK into "other hands" to ensure a sustainable future for the Church.

• Reflecting on Tenure: He described his six years in office as "intense," noting that significant progress was made alongside the "people of God."

• Hopes for the Future: He encouraged the conference to maintain "courage for open dialogue" and a "willingness to reach out to one another."

What Happens Next?

The election for the next chairman, who will serve a six-year term, will be the central focus of the assembly in Würzburg at the end of next month.

Bätzing’s tenure was marked by a period of significant reform efforts and internal dialogue within the German Church. His successor will inherit the task of navigating these ongoing developments while maintaining unity with the global Catholic Church.

FROM ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE:

AI Overview

There are strong indications and reports from January 2026 suggesting Pope Leo XIV is pressing German Bishop Georg Bätzing, head of the German Bishops' Conference, to resign due to conflicts over the German Church's "Synodal Way," with fears of schism rising, and some social media posts even claimed Bätzing already stepped down, though official confirmation needs verification, as Bätzing's leadership and the Synodal Path's direction clash with Vatican expectations

. 

Key Points of the Situation:

• Pope Leo XIV's Stance: Pope Leo XIV, reportedly receiving support from cardinals, sees the German Synodal Conference as a potential schism and wants to intervene, potentially suspending the process.
• Bätzing's Position: Bishop Bätzing is the leader of the contentious German "Synodal Way," a reform movement that Rome views with suspicion, especially regarding its moves toward decision-making bodies with lay involvement.
• Pressure for Resignation: Sources suggest Pope Leo is pushing Bätzing out, with some online posts even prematurely announcing his resignation on January 19, 2026, due to inner fatigue and disagreements over the Synodal Way's future.
• Vatican Concerns: The Holy See has previously warned the German bishops against creating permanent bodies with decision-making powers, viewing them as contrary to Church law. 

In essence, the Pope is taking a strong stance against the German Church's direction, and Bishop Bätzing, as its leader, is at the center of this conflict, facing pressure to resign

INTERESTING, NO? THE OTHER SHOE 👞 DROPS

 The Holy Father has received shoes from Adriano Stefanelli, the Papal Shoe Maker for Pope Benedict XVI. Mr. Stefanelli notes in the comments on this post that the black shoes were specifically requested by Pope Leo…

WILL POPE LEO XIV BLESS THE LITTLE LAMBS ON WEDNESDAY’S FEAST OF SAINT AGNES (AGNUS) OR WILL HE CONTINUE POPE FRANCIS’ DISCONTINUATION OF THIS MARVELOUS LITTLE tRADITION?

 Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the blessing of the little lambs on the Feast of St. Agnus with great flair and humbly embracing, in the most humble way, great papal dignity in doing so.

Pope Francis offered a kind of variation to this blessing in his first year but then discontinued doing so for the rest of His Holiness’ papacy. 

Pope Francis was not humble in embracing papal protocol and easily dispensed of papal traditions in the most “PREPOTENZA” way. You’ll have to look up what the Italian word “prepotenza” means, but it his the opposite of humble, as a clue:

So, if we are to place wagers on what Pope Leo XIV will do, how much would you bet that he will recover this great tradition of blessing on the Feast of Saint Agnes (Agnus) on Wednesday?

And if he recovers this tradition, will His Holiness look more like Pope Benedict while offering this blessing or more like Pope Francis?

Time will tell by tomorrow!

This is what AI says about this blessing and Pope Francis:

Every January 21, on the 

Feast of St. Agnes, the Pope historically blesses two lambs in a centuries-old Vatican tradition. While Pope Francis participated in this ceremony during the early years of his pontificate, recent reports indicate that he discontinued the specific ritual of personally blessing the lambs in the Vatican a few years into his leadership. 

Tradition and Symbolism

• The Pallium: The wool from these lambs is shorn on Holy Week by the Benedictine nuns of St. Cecilia in Trastevere. It is then woven into palliums—white wool stoles decorated with six black crosses—which the Pope bestows upon newly appointed Metropolitan Archbishops on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29).
• St. Agnes: The martyr’s name sounds like the Latin word for lamb (agnus), and she is often depicted with one to symbolize her purity and chastity.
• Floral Crowns: Traditionally, one lamb is adorned with a red floral wreath(symbolizing her martyrdom) and the other with white flowers (symbolizing her purity). 

Evolution of the Rite

Although the Pope no longer blesses them personally at the Vatican, the lambs are still brought to the Basilica of Saint Agnes Outside-the-Walls on the morning of January 21. They are placed on the altar over the martyr's tomb and blessed by a high-ranking cleric or the Abbot of the Lateran Canons before being entrusted to the nuns for weaving

THE MOTEL 6 AT THE VATICAN HAS LOST ITS MOST FAMOUS GUEST…

 After 13 long years and recent major renovations, Pope Leo XIV has moved into the Apostolic Palace! And to help the papacy make the transition from the most humble Vatican Motel 6, the Apostolic Palace left the lights on for the pope! 

A BISHOP APPOINTED BY POPE FRANCIS IN 2013 AND NAMED A CARDINAL BY POPE FRANCIS, ONLY TO REJECT THE CARDINALATE, APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN ASKED TO RESIGN AS BISHOP AT THE AGE OF 62 BY HIS HOLINESS, POPE LEO XIV…

 FROM THE PILLAR, PRESS TITLE FOR FULL STORY:

Bishop who declined red hat resigns at 63 

Bishop Syukur stepped down citing ‘obedience’ to the Holy See

MONEY BYTE

The Vatican announced Jan. 19 that Pope Leo XIV had accepted the resignation of Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur, O.F.M., as head of the Diocese of Bogor.

The Vatican did not give a reason for Syukur’s highly unusual resignation at the age of 63, 12 years after he was appointed to lead the Bogor diocese and 12 years before he would be expected to tender his resignation to the pope. There have been no public reports that Syukur is suffering from health issues.

that he would be among 21 new cardinals created in December that year.

But the Vatican said on Oct. 22, 2024, that Syukur had asked not to be created a cardinal.

“Pope Francis has accepted the request of His Excellency Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur of Bogor, Indonesia, not to be created cardinal in the upcoming consistory,” the Holy See press office said.