Contrary to media reports...

 

Try to have a more supernatural filter.

"Contrary to Italian media reports, the Register can confirm that Cardinal Raymond Burke never received the future Pope in his apartment during the period of the general congregations, nor any other pressure to vote for him." - @EdwardPentin dispels a rumor.

I think everything is unfolding wonderfully. Personally, I think it is a mistake to speculate and/or follow rumors and gossip regarding how the pope was elected and all the gossip associated with that type of 'court intrigue', even though it can be fun. I was reading a report at Rorate Caeli that reminded me of court intrigue from another era - it didn't help I was watching Marie Antoinette with scenes depicting all the gossip and treason within the royal court prior to the Revolution. I didn't find the report at all edifying. I now avoid everything unless it is celebratory and positive.

I'm convinced Leo XIV will be the best Pope for our time, just as I consider his predecessors to be. In fact, think he will be the best of all his predecessors and yet remain his own man. I think he has already brought much peace and good will. Going forward, I'm content to see how the grace of office develops and directs his papacy.

I am so grateful to be Catholic and that we have a pope. I love the pope. When a king dies, it is said, 'the king is dead, long live the king' - signifying the continuity of the monarchy. Just so, when the pope dies, we mourn of course, but another comes to fill his place, the Chair of Peter is occupied by another.

Even in authentic apparitions, prophecies and so on - when heaven asks us to pray for the pope, normally a particular pope is not referenced or specified. At Fatima, Our Lady mentioned the reign of Pius XI, yet her call to pray for the pope referred to whomever was pope down the line.

Perhaps an illustration of that is the Dream of S. John Bosco regarding the Barque of Peter, symbolizing the Church, with the Pope at the helm. In the dream a series of popes is clearly indicated. The part of the Church/papacy under assault could well represent the Franciscan papacy, while the Pope bringing the Barque to port and uniting everyone might indicate our new Pope, whom everyone seems to like. (I've thought of that Dream at each successive papacy BTW.)

Yet paradoxically - dreams and private revelations cannot be taken literally, and normally they can't be pinned down to specifics, which can be subject to change. Thus we can understand the papacy not limited to this or that man, but rather an office, established by Christ in Peter, extended in time, to guide the Church - the faithful, the People of God to eternal salvation.

Anyway, I have great peace and joy, confidence and love for Pope Leo XIV, just as I did for Francis, Benedict, JPII, JPI, Paul VI, John XXIII, and Pius XII.

There will always be enemies of the Church, of the papacy and they are very active now. There are those who despised Pope Francis and they continue their attacks, often comparing Leo and Francis, while some are active digging up negative stories, or making them up altogether, I can't spend the rest of my life addressing such opposition and hopefully I won't.

Happy feastday of Our Lady of Fatima. Pray the rosary every day. Pray for the Holy Father who will have much to suffer.