Unexpected news at the end of Easter Week

[aadler]

Ever since Susan and I learned that our daughter-in-law was pregnant again, we’ve been saying a Rosary every single day that includes prayers for a safe delivery and a healthy grandchild (currently due sometime between the end of June and the first week of July). That’s been our primary focus, but — Susan especially being conscientious about such things — we’ve regularly included various other prayers as well.

For something like a month, my own prayers have ended with, “for the faith of our church, the enlightenment of our Pope, and a good choice for the next Pope when that time comes.”

Now that time HAS come.

I won’t presume to judge Pope Francis, but when he made public announcements, he unavoidably opened himself to the opinions of people hearing those announcements. And, year after year, incrementally and in mounting aggregate, the things he openly supported seemed to work directly against the Church he was supposed to lead.

God will judge him, and — since I desperately need mercy for myself when my time arrives — I hope that judgment is merciful. And maybe there were things I didn’t know that would change my opinion at least a little.

I’ve heard claims that Pope Benedict was essentially forced out of leadership by the same ‘progressive’ elements that chose Francis as their flagbearer. I don’t know if those things are true … but, regardless, I hope nothing like that happens again.

My prayers now are that the Catholic Church will choose someone who will lead the Catholic Church … and out of, not further into, the morass of woke bullshit that increasingly and inescapably characterized our now-previous Pope.

We need it.