Leo Goes to the Looney Left

By Joseph Catena

Pope Leo XIV is acting more like Bob Prevost, a liberal from Chicago, who has a “Pritzker for Prez” sign on his lawn.

If he were acting the way Leo from Vatican City should act, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.

The pontiff has called out President Trump without saying his name and has chastised the U.S. war effort against Iran. His thinly veiled nonsensical drivel about the world being “ravaged by a handful of tyrants” is not only ignorant, it is dangerous. It is dangerous to both Catholics and Jews. Furthermore, his stance may cause great damage in relations with Jews.

“God does not bless any conflict,” he said. “Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.”

For years, Iran’s leaders have killed Americans and have essentially vowed to wipe out Israel. They reneged in the deal last June to stop developing nuclear weapons. Not only did Leo fail to acknowledge this, he has never called out the late ayatollah, nor has he openly condemned Hezbollah or any other terrorist network funded and sponsored by Iran. What kind of message does this convey to Israel, especially after Oct. 7? Do Israelis matter? We are in this battle together, because both countries face danger.

As the Vicar of Christ, it is imperative that Leo focus on the Gospels and lead Catholics in their spiritual journey throughout their lives. His left turn toward political commentary sharply veers off the track of that journey. Worse yet, his preachings are false. Centuries-old Catholic Catechism reads as follows:

However, “as long as the danger of war persists and there is no intentional authority with the necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed.”

The danger of war has persisted for 47 years. From the time Iran took 66 hostages over a 444-day time period beginning in 1979, more Americans have been killed by Iran than any other terrorist regime on Earth. For nearly five decades, American presidents have tried to negotiate with Iran’s maniacal leadership. Barack Obama’s weak 2016 sanctions relief agreement and Joe Biden’s billions of dollars in a hostage deal basically emboldened the terrorists and did nothing to quell their aggression. Furthermore, Iran reneged on its nuclear peace agreement in 2025 negotiated by the Trump administration. Hence, “all peace efforts have failed.”

The pope’s criticism of U.S. actions was also refuted by Father Gerald Murray, a canon lawyer. Father Murray called Iran’s government a serious and present danger to the U.S. and our allies, thereby making our entrance into the conflict as just.

It’s hard to imagine Pope Pius XII condemning President Franklin Delano Roosevelt for trying to destroy Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime during World War II. In fact, in 1940, one year before U.S. involvement, he called for the triumph over hatred, mistrust, and the spirit of “cold egoism.” In his Christmas message of 1942, Pius XII directly spoke against the extermination of the Jews and even drew praise from The New York Times. Unlike Leo, Pius actually helped Jews, by hiding them and shielding them from Nazi forces. He was sometimes referred to as “The Chief Rabbi of the Christian world.” Papal ambassadors dubbed him “Prime Minister for the Jews.”

Leo has never spoken with such authority about Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, both of which Iran provides munitions in their crusade against Israel. Does he not see the imminent danger and the need for lawful self-defense? Does he not see it, or does he refuse to see it? The fact is, no one likes war, and it should be prevented by every means possible. Negotiation, reflection, and prayer are all necessary and should all be implemented. But when lives are at stake, threatened, or lost (all three of these scenarios have been carried out by Iran’s terrorist regime), then a country must resort to war, and wars are not pretty.

In this case, the destruction of and war against Iran is not only necessary, it is just.

Perhaps Leo should take a step back. Maybe he needs to go back to being Bob from Chicago, an American citizen, for just a moment. Look at the world around you. Look at the terror in Gaza. Think about what a nuclear-armed Iran can do to the United States and what it has done already. Look at your tax dollars being spent in neighboring Minnesota with all the Somali daycare fraud. Look at the gangs and criminals destroying your once great city. Take a gander at the numerous illegal aliens who are killing our people and committing violent crimes. Do you like the way your moronic dolt of a mayor – Brandon Johnson – is running your city into the ground while good Catholics like yourself suffer?

Then go back to being to being Bob, the young student at St. Augustine Seminary High School in Saugatuck, Michigan. Think about who your seminary was named after. Maybe while you were there you learned about St. Augustine and studied the key elements he framed in the Just War Theory.

When you’re done being Bobby, go back to being Pope Leo XIV. Speak against evil and wrongdoing and preach the Word of God.

Simply put, act like a Catholic, because right now, President Trump, born a Presbyterian, seems to have a better grasp on theology than you do.