PLAYGROUND TRASH TALK

By Tim Rohr

Copying here my Facebook post, then some commentary after.

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As a usually outspoken Catholic, I'm being asked for my thoughts about the recent spat between the president and the pope. I don't really want to wander into this on FB, where I try to keep things neutral - at least in recent years. But one thing keeps coming to mind. 

Leo says, "I'm not afraid." 

JP2 said: "Be not afraid." 

I really think Leo would do better if he said the latter. 

"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Mt. 10:28

This is all we really need to care about. At least that's what I do. Eternity is a very long time. 

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Upon Leo's election, there was quite a bit of speculation that he, the first American ever elected pope, was elected for no other reason than to oppose Donald Trump.

Knowing THE MESS that Francis created in the Church during his 13 years, including the appointment of cardinal-electors who would be certain to perpetuate it, THE MESS, I gave some credence to this view, but nevertheless hoped otherwise.

By the way, in case you don't know or don't remember, Francis began his pontificate with the order "MAKE A MESS!" 

In a column for the Guam Daily Post, published in June 2025 and titled WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE NEW POPE? I wrote that I believed Pope Leo, contrary to Francis, would be much more careful with his words. 

He was...until now. And it's not his now much publicized statement on Palm Sunday: "Jesus does not listen to prayers of those who wage war," which much of the world saw as a direct jab at Trump's war on Iran. 

There is some speculation as to whether the pope meant those who "wage" war or those who "initiate" war. And that would make a big difference, since under the Just War Theory, we can morally engage in self-defense. 

So, as with Francis (and there's even a new word for it), the "pope-splainers" were out in force to tell us, once again, what the pope "really meant." 

However, we don't need them to tell us now. Leo told us himself what he really meant and exactly who he had directed his "wage war" comment to when he told the press: "I'm not afraid of Trump." 

With that comment, the mask came off. Sadly, for the pope, Trump's usual provocative style, which is nothing new and always to be expected, provoked the pope to get down into the TDS gutter with the others. 

How different things could have been had he quoted the Gospel he says he is proclaiming with the words "Be not afraid," rather than such self-absorbed human words: "I'm not afraid." It reminds me of that childhood playground trash talk: "I'm not afraid of you," and "My dad can beat your dad," etc. SMH

By the way, Pope Leo is currently on a much-publicized tour of Africa. He will be in Africa for 11 days. Guess where he is not going?