As a practicing Catholic, thank you! I have prayed for the Pope sincerely throughout his pontificate and now continue to pray for the repose of his soul. While I lament his death as I do any death, it is without deep feeling of loss this time around. May the good Lord have mercy on all of us!
THIS exactly! I actively grieved for Pope John Paul II - but have never connected to Pope Francis during his tenure - and felt a little more disenchanted from The Church during his leadership.
I pray for a leader that The Catholic Church -and the Faithful - need to journey into the future.
He was the Obama pope. He advocated for illegal immigrants and open borders and loosening the rules of the Catholic faith. I'm guessing the next pope is going to be a lot more traditional.
You should have left the pope not the church. The church is Jesus Christ Always was and always will be. I hope you come back and find a local church more attuned to the teachings of Christ.
No one man is the church but Jesus, the Son of God. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
The Catholic Church has somewhat succumbed to the cult of personality like many Protestant denominations have been doing for decades. No one says it better than Benedict XVI when asked “How are you going to follow JPII?? He was so well-loved”. In his calm measured tone his response said it all:
“It’s not about me, or about him, it is the man we represent”
There exists no rebuttal to that statement.
Secondly, I lived for many years in an upscale town in the SF East bay full of cradle Catholics who had abandoned the church and I wouldn’t know this except that I would see them in church on holidays only. When Francis was elected they were ecstatic,
“This is just what the church needs now!” Guess how many of them I then saw attending mass or any sacraments or even getting involved? Zero.
Last word, John Henry Cardinal Newman said it best, “Liberalism is never a way into the church, it’s always a way out”.
Sadly I doubt your reason was just the Pope. As a Catholic you know that we have the promise that, "the gates of hell shall not prevail." The Church is forever, Popes come and go. The Catholic Church is the true church established by Jesus Christ. I hope you find your way back home.
Why abandon the faith Christ gave us for one pope? I'm asking in all sincerity. There have been bad popes and there have been very beautiful popes; Pope Saint JPII, for example. You left the one Church who believes in the precious body and blood of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. No pope could ever take that away from me.
You know God sorts all of that out. Once watched a testimony of a man who nearly died in a motorcycle accident. He saw hell and heaven and testifies that he saw a pope in hell. It was the kind of life altering experience most of us won’t know and tell about. He later became a priest. Let God sort that out and pray for our return to a Church of prayer and not politics or modern cultural shifts.
Dang, you've used very good judgment in doing that! It has been clear to me that the Roman Catholic Church, at least those at it's upper levels, have LONG been the willing servants of Satan. I do not necessarily believe, however, that all of those who call themselves 'Catholic' are necessarily likewise. It just has never made any sense to me as to why anyone with common sense would want to be a member of such an awful organization. At the very least as far back as Pope Pius XII, it was clear that the term Catholic has been linked with all sorts of horrible and awful practices...Just one in particular attributed to Pope Pius XII: he made a list of fire bombing targets (for the Allies to fire bomb) within NAZI Germany...all of which had the higher percentages of Protestants...a classic case in point, was Dresden. It had THE highest percentage of Protestants in the entire country! Wow! ...such 'Christian' brotherly love!
The Roman Catholic Church is the Church that Christ built on the rock of St. Peter, and it will remain that forever. That some of her hierarchs have been not so good doesn't change that fact at all. And you're completely incorrect about Pope Pius XII and Dresden; that is totally made-up (and rather funny since the Left loves to accuse him of having been a Nazi pawn, which is another lie).
Sorry! Constantine made it the State Religion primarily for political/control reasons. I see Roman Catholicism, especially those who are of the Jesuit order, to be just another branch of the infamous and 'universal' Church of Satan!
No, Constantine did not make Catholicism the state religion. Read the Edict of Milan, which merely tolerated Christianity and gave Christians back that which was stolen from them: https://www.fisheaters.com/edictofmilan.html
I think Jesus would enter the Vatican and turn things on its head because of how far the Catholic church is gone off track. I don't think he ever meant for there to be a coronation of a pope. The church should follow more the example of mother Teresa caring for the poor, the homeless and forcus on teaching values aka the beatitudes. Leave materialism behind. The church needs a good dose of humility.
Jesus Christ established the Catholic Church and Peter was the first Pope. Peter was given the keys to the kingdom by Jesus and was given the title as first Pope. Charity is fundamental pillar of Catholicism.
Show us in the Bible where Jesus declares a pope. The the scripture clearly says, “call no man Father”. Paul, on his many missionary journeys started many churches. The Roman Empire declared the Vatican could be established within Rome, in order to have political control of the people.
Yet it wasn’t a Catholic Church where one prays to Mary. We are to worship Jesus and pray to Jesus. Where is a pope mentioned in the Bible and where does it say to pray to Mary? It says to pray to God.
True, veneration of Mary is not mentioned in the Bible, at least I haven't read it - and I've read most of it. But along with..."you are the rock," Jesus did told Peter "Feed my sheep...tend my flock.". Although the word "Pope" isn't in the Bible through these phrases Jesus' clear intention is to have one man as leader of the Catholic church, and that iswho we call our Pope.
Peter furthered Jesus’ teachings. Peter did not create the highly institutionalized Catholic Church, it was developed in a few centuries. Jesus’ teachings are about salvation, not rules and regulations. It’s the highly religious with the numerous laws that had him killed. Jesus had no “clear intention” for a Catholic Church that prays to Mary or one so highly institutionalized. The Catholic Church emerged gradually from centuries of complex interactions involving theological disputes, institutional evolution, charismatic authority, and political power. The Catholic Church as we know it today wasn’t the vision of one founder but the cumulative product of historical circumstances, human decisions, and profound religious convictions that unfolded over several centuries.
Yes, to spread the word of Jesus and salvation, not to create a highly institutionalized Catholic Church that prays to Mary and has so many rules. Jesus rebuked the rules of the Pharisees that had him killed. The Bible is about Jesus and his teachings and furthering his Word and the church, not to create a “Catholic Church”. If the church tells this to their flock, what else do they tell them. And this Pope turned many away from Christ and had ideology directly opposed by Jesus and His teachings. The Catholic Church was developed over centuries, not by Peter.
Everything I have read suggests the group of Cardinals making the selection for the next pope are predominantly of a like mind to Francis. While I of course mourn his passing, I do not regret to see his pontificate end, for in his quest to "modernize" the faith, he abandoned some perspective that was to the faith's detriment.
I don't expect the next pope to be much different. There is a major schism brewing, since the areas of the church that are growing to not subscribe to Francis's perspective.
Well he did ordain many of those Cardinals but I have faith that they'll see where our Church wants to go and that isn't the same direction Pope Francis' was taking it. The Gen Z Catholics are much more conservative. But if the Cardinal Cupich's have their way, it won't be what I'd like to see.
Praying for a Pope who doesn't consider Jesus to be just a wise teacher who made some terrific points - like Mohammed or Buddha.
We are crying out for a Supreme Pontiff who teaches there is only One Way to the Creator, and that’s through His Son, Jesus.
Sorry, Rick Warren. The adherents of the great religions are not all “good people trying to get to the same place by different routes.” Somebody gotta be wrong.
My beef (I read the book last March) is that it's gonna take about another 5-10 years to sort itself out.
AND I'M 66 damnit! While I acknowledge these are dangerous times, I have faith that we'll get thru it and that what's on the other side will be sooo much better. God I wish I was in my 30's.
I'm 66 as well and while I too at times wish I were younger I am grateful that I got to experience the much simpler times of no cell phones, no TSA, rotary phones, etc.
It's sooo much more intellectually challenging to go online today- there are so many charlitans out there. Just in the last 10 years I've found wonderful people to ff online, but then after 10/7 had to stop watching them; Jimmy Dore is the worst offender for me.
So yeah, it's a pain.
But I look back to those 'good ol' days' of the 80's and my breath is taken away by how much we were propagandized by the MSM. Yeah, it's harder to seperate the wheat from the chaff, but I prefer having a better idea of the elite agenda that I have today.
I keep my tech limited. Not b/c I'm too dum to figger it out, but simply b/c it's not worth the time for me. These kids are amazing in their skill w/it all.
I'm a devout Catholic; actually leaving today for a Marian pilgrimage to Portugal (Fatima), Spain (Santiago De Compostela, La Sagrada Familia, Monserrat) and France (Lourdes).
I pray for the repose of Pope Francis soul. I also pray for a new pope who will be return our Church to prayer and away from politics and modern culture. His upbringing in Argentina plays a large role in who and why he lead the way he did and as you say Sasha he came in on the heals of the likes of Barack Obama. Our Church is growing more conservative as observed in the youngest generation and the large number of converts and reverts. May God bless Pope Francis and all Christians.
Have you seen La Sagrada Familia? We went to Spain in fall 2024, it is absolutely amazing in every way. There’s a small room there with a short video that explains so much, make sure to see it and then go look at the outside walls.
Yes, I was there is spring 2022 with our daughter. It’s so beautiful and purposeful in every detail! Gaudi was a beautiful Catholic; he was mistaken for a pauper when hit by a tram on his way to morning Mass and died a few days later at a very young age. Looking forward to me my husband seeing it and seeing the progress. God bless!
To the park itself but not inside. As I remember it, we hadn’t bought that extra ticket. Beautiful and interesting and unique park….just like Barcelona is!
Organized by Nativity Pilgrimage for Relevant Radio. This is our third pilgrimage with them. First was a Eucharistic Miracle pilgrimage through Italy and a saints pilgrimage through Poland and Czech Republic.
Nativity has lots of pilgrimages available on their site. The owner Jacob is from Bethlehem originally; company is out of Houston. Happy Easter!
In fall 2026, Relevant Radio is working with Nativity on a Holy Land pilgrimage, which is what we were supposed to take last fall but was cancelled due to the ongoing war. Praying Holy Land visits can resume soon.
He wasn't a good representation of the traditional Catholic faith; they never stood for anything regarding freedom during the covid Scamdemic, but he still took the money.
I am an agnostic at best, Protestant in upbringing, but have been making my way through the Catholic Bible as an academic pursuit for the last year. The more I learn about the Catholic perspective on Christianity, the more confused I have become about how Pope Francis could ever have been considered for the papacy under the Catholic tenets, given his world view.
The atheists and revolutionaries who make the State their religion loved Pope Francis. Yep....that about sums it up. The Vance family met with him and his life's work was done.....hmmmm
According to Zoroastrianism, if the eternal flame is extinguished, it would have a significant impact. The eternal flame symbolizes the dynamism and transformative power of life, representing the constant cycle of birth, growth, decay, and renewal. The fire serves as a reminder of the eternal flame of life, even amidst changes and challenges3.
I would put Cardinal Ratzinger, formerly the horrific head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, aka The Inquisition, right up there as one of the most despicable a who have sat in that seat. I, a Catholic convert who walked that path with rapture — for a decade.
As a practicing Catholic, thank you! I have prayed for the Pope sincerely throughout his pontificate and now continue to pray for the repose of his soul. While I lament his death as I do any death, it is without deep feeling of loss this time around. May the good Lord have mercy on all of us!
Well said and I feel the same.
THIS exactly! I actively grieved for Pope John Paul II - but have never connected to Pope Francis during his tenure - and felt a little more disenchanted from The Church during his leadership.
I pray for a leader that The Catholic Church -and the Faithful - need to journey into the future.
He was the Obama pope. He advocated for illegal immigrants and open borders and loosening the rules of the Catholic faith. I'm guessing the next pope is going to be a lot more traditional.
Amen.
Pope Francis is the reason I left the Catholic Church. Hopefully, the next Pope can return the Catholic Church to its moorings.
You should have left the pope not the church. The church is Jesus Christ Always was and always will be. I hope you come back and find a local church more attuned to the teachings of Christ.
No one man is the church but Jesus, the Son of God. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
The Catholic Church has somewhat succumbed to the cult of personality like many Protestant denominations have been doing for decades. No one says it better than Benedict XVI when asked “How are you going to follow JPII?? He was so well-loved”. In his calm measured tone his response said it all:
“It’s not about me, or about him, it is the man we represent”
There exists no rebuttal to that statement.
Secondly, I lived for many years in an upscale town in the SF East bay full of cradle Catholics who had abandoned the church and I wouldn’t know this except that I would see them in church on holidays only. When Francis was elected they were ecstatic,
“This is just what the church needs now!” Guess how many of them I then saw attending mass or any sacraments or even getting involved? Zero.
Last word, John Henry Cardinal Newman said it best, “Liberalism is never a way into the church, it’s always a way out”.
Somewhat??????? Let's get real here people!
Sadly I doubt your reason was just the Pope. As a Catholic you know that we have the promise that, "the gates of hell shall not prevail." The Church is forever, Popes come and go. The Catholic Church is the true church established by Jesus Christ. I hope you find your way back home.
And how do you know my heart?
I don't, but in my experience it's usually not one thing that causes someone to leave.
Well, it was three things.
If you SERIOUSLY believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'll sell to ya on the cheap!
Your church was established by Rome & supplanted Christ's Church
Why abandon the faith Christ gave us for one pope? I'm asking in all sincerity. There have been bad popes and there have been very beautiful popes; Pope Saint JPII, for example. You left the one Church who believes in the precious body and blood of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. No pope could ever take that away from me.
Three reasons:
1) He had a long enough tenure to, IMO, fatally injure the church.
2) His election, despite his known contradictions to the faith, indicated the church has broader and deeper divisions and problems.
3) His hypocrisy.
You know God sorts all of that out. Once watched a testimony of a man who nearly died in a motorcycle accident. He saw hell and heaven and testifies that he saw a pope in hell. It was the kind of life altering experience most of us won’t know and tell about. He later became a priest. Let God sort that out and pray for our return to a Church of prayer and not politics or modern cultural shifts.
May God judge him rightfully.
He judges all of us rightfully.
Yes, He does!
Nothing, NOTHING can fatally injure the church Christ established.
Perhaps Francis fatally injured a church Christ did not establish so that the church Christ established may return in full.
Dang, you've used very good judgment in doing that! It has been clear to me that the Roman Catholic Church, at least those at it's upper levels, have LONG been the willing servants of Satan. I do not necessarily believe, however, that all of those who call themselves 'Catholic' are necessarily likewise. It just has never made any sense to me as to why anyone with common sense would want to be a member of such an awful organization. At the very least as far back as Pope Pius XII, it was clear that the term Catholic has been linked with all sorts of horrible and awful practices...Just one in particular attributed to Pope Pius XII: he made a list of fire bombing targets (for the Allies to fire bomb) within NAZI Germany...all of which had the higher percentages of Protestants...a classic case in point, was Dresden. It had THE highest percentage of Protestants in the entire country! Wow! ...such 'Christian' brotherly love!
The Roman Catholic Church is the Church that Christ built on the rock of St. Peter, and it will remain that forever. That some of her hierarchs have been not so good doesn't change that fact at all. And you're completely incorrect about Pope Pius XII and Dresden; that is totally made-up (and rather funny since the Left loves to accuse him of having been a Nazi pawn, which is another lie).
Sorry! Constantine made it the State Religion primarily for political/control reasons. I see Roman Catholicism, especially those who are of the Jesuit order, to be just another branch of the infamous and 'universal' Church of Satan!
No, Constantine did not make Catholicism the state religion. Read the Edict of Milan, which merely tolerated Christianity and gave Christians back that which was stolen from them: https://www.fisheaters.com/edictofmilan.html
While Mink does arguably, make a nice fur coat, he doesn't make much practical sense here on Substack.
Don't leave Jesus because of Judas.
I am sorry, I pray you will reconsider. Hopefully you will remain open.
Pope Francis always made me appreciate the jest, "Is the Pope Catholic?"
As an ex-catholic, all I can say is that we now know the answer.
No, the pope is communist. Can't serve two masters.
But a bear definitely still sh*ts in the woods.
Some things never change, Ripple.
I’m cradle to grave Catholic but I do pray we get a more Catholic pope this time. Thanks for recognizing this day so well, Sasha.
A simple and appropriate comment. Thank you.
I think Jesus would enter the Vatican and turn things on its head because of how far the Catholic church is gone off track. I don't think he ever meant for there to be a coronation of a pope. The church should follow more the example of mother Teresa caring for the poor, the homeless and forcus on teaching values aka the beatitudes. Leave materialism behind. The church needs a good dose of humility.
Jesus Christ established the Catholic Church and Peter was the first Pope. Peter was given the keys to the kingdom by Jesus and was given the title as first Pope. Charity is fundamental pillar of Catholicism.
Show us in the Bible where Jesus declares a pope. The the scripture clearly says, “call no man Father”. Paul, on his many missionary journeys started many churches. The Roman Empire declared the Vatican could be established within Rome, in order to have political control of the people.
I believe in the bible Jesus tells Peter, "you are the rock on which I will build my church."
-Matthew 16
Yet it wasn’t a Catholic Church where one prays to Mary. We are to worship Jesus and pray to Jesus. Where is a pope mentioned in the Bible and where does it say to pray to Mary? It says to pray to God.
True, veneration of Mary is not mentioned in the Bible, at least I haven't read it - and I've read most of it. But along with..."you are the rock," Jesus did told Peter "Feed my sheep...tend my flock.". Although the word "Pope" isn't in the Bible through these phrases Jesus' clear intention is to have one man as leader of the Catholic church, and that iswho we call our Pope.
Peter furthered Jesus’ teachings. Peter did not create the highly institutionalized Catholic Church, it was developed in a few centuries. Jesus’ teachings are about salvation, not rules and regulations. It’s the highly religious with the numerous laws that had him killed. Jesus had no “clear intention” for a Catholic Church that prays to Mary or one so highly institutionalized. The Catholic Church emerged gradually from centuries of complex interactions involving theological disputes, institutional evolution, charismatic authority, and political power. The Catholic Church as we know it today wasn’t the vision of one founder but the cumulative product of historical circumstances, human decisions, and profound religious convictions that unfolded over several centuries.
But from where did the Bible come?
Jesus did not establish the Catholic Church and Peter was not the first pope.
Matthew 16:18
Yes, to spread the word of Jesus and salvation, not to create a highly institutionalized Catholic Church that prays to Mary and has so many rules. Jesus rebuked the rules of the Pharisees that had him killed. The Bible is about Jesus and his teachings and furthering his Word and the church, not to create a “Catholic Church”. If the church tells this to their flock, what else do they tell them. And this Pope turned many away from Christ and had ideology directly opposed by Jesus and His teachings. The Catholic Church was developed over centuries, not by Peter.
God bless.
Everything I have read suggests the group of Cardinals making the selection for the next pope are predominantly of a like mind to Francis. While I of course mourn his passing, I do not regret to see his pontificate end, for in his quest to "modernize" the faith, he abandoned some perspective that was to the faith's detriment.
I don't expect the next pope to be much different. There is a major schism brewing, since the areas of the church that are growing to not subscribe to Francis's perspective.
I suggest that he abandoned a whole lot more than "perspective."
A fair argument.
Well he did ordain many of those Cardinals but I have faith that they'll see where our Church wants to go and that isn't the same direction Pope Francis' was taking it. The Gen Z Catholics are much more conservative. But if the Cardinal Cupich's have their way, it won't be what I'd like to see.
Dictators don't do the bad stuff. They have more than enough willing minions.
As a Latin Mass Catholic I appreciate your sensitivity, but objectively Francis was not faithful to the Gospel of Christ.
When Jesus entered the Temple during Holy Week it was with a whip, and it might be no different if He were to return to the Vatican today.
The media glorification of this man is an insult to good priests who died in Dachau or the Gulag.
Godless Marxists glorifying him says all anyone needs to know.
Praying for a Pope who doesn't consider Jesus to be just a wise teacher who made some terrific points - like Mohammed or Buddha.
We are crying out for a Supreme Pontiff who teaches there is only One Way to the Creator, and that’s through His Son, Jesus.
Sorry, Rick Warren. The adherents of the great religions are not all “good people trying to get to the same place by different routes.” Somebody gotta be wrong.
I am so grateful to be living through the Fourth Turning. Thank you from my heart for your insights and words. 💜
My beef (I read the book last March) is that it's gonna take about another 5-10 years to sort itself out.
AND I'M 66 damnit! While I acknowledge these are dangerous times, I have faith that we'll get thru it and that what's on the other side will be sooo much better. God I wish I was in my 30's.
I'm 66 as well and while I too at times wish I were younger I am grateful that I got to experience the much simpler times of no cell phones, no TSA, rotary phones, etc.
I hear you, Ripple.
It's sooo much more intellectually challenging to go online today- there are so many charlitans out there. Just in the last 10 years I've found wonderful people to ff online, but then after 10/7 had to stop watching them; Jimmy Dore is the worst offender for me.
So yeah, it's a pain.
But I look back to those 'good ol' days' of the 80's and my breath is taken away by how much we were propagandized by the MSM. Yeah, it's harder to seperate the wheat from the chaff, but I prefer having a better idea of the elite agenda that I have today.
I keep my tech limited. Not b/c I'm too dum to figger it out, but simply b/c it's not worth the time for me. These kids are amazing in their skill w/it all.
For me? These truly are the best of times.
He was a communist, and like all high up communists lived a life of luxury. I hope the next Pope is more like John Paul II, who was truly a great one.
I'm a devout Catholic; actually leaving today for a Marian pilgrimage to Portugal (Fatima), Spain (Santiago De Compostela, La Sagrada Familia, Monserrat) and France (Lourdes).
I pray for the repose of Pope Francis soul. I also pray for a new pope who will be return our Church to prayer and away from politics and modern culture. His upbringing in Argentina plays a large role in who and why he lead the way he did and as you say Sasha he came in on the heals of the likes of Barack Obama. Our Church is growing more conservative as observed in the youngest generation and the large number of converts and reverts. May God bless Pope Francis and all Christians.
Have you seen La Sagrada Familia? We went to Spain in fall 2024, it is absolutely amazing in every way. There’s a small room there with a short video that explains so much, make sure to see it and then go look at the outside walls.
Yes, I was there is spring 2022 with our daughter. It’s so beautiful and purposeful in every detail! Gaudi was a beautiful Catholic; he was mistaken for a pauper when hit by a tram on his way to morning Mass and died a few days later at a very young age. Looking forward to me my husband seeing it and seeing the progress. God bless!
Yes, that story about his death and being found by friends in a pauper’s hospital was wild. Did you also go to the house museum in Park Guell?
To the park itself but not inside. As I remember it, we hadn’t bought that extra ticket. Beautiful and interesting and unique park….just like Barcelona is!
The Marian pilgrimage sounds interesting. Hope you don’t mind me asking but is it an organized tour or are you traveling by your own design? Thanks!
Organized by Nativity Pilgrimage for Relevant Radio. This is our third pilgrimage with them. First was a Eucharistic Miracle pilgrimage through Italy and a saints pilgrimage through Poland and Czech Republic.
Nativity has lots of pilgrimages available on their site. The owner Jacob is from Bethlehem originally; company is out of Houston. Happy Easter!
Thank you very much. I’m definitely going to look into this.
In fall 2026, Relevant Radio is working with Nativity on a Holy Land pilgrimage, which is what we were supposed to take last fall but was cancelled due to the ongoing war. Praying Holy Land visits can resume soon.
He wasn't a good representation of the traditional Catholic faith; they never stood for anything regarding freedom during the covid Scamdemic, but he still took the money.
I am an agnostic at best, Protestant in upbringing, but have been making my way through the Catholic Bible as an academic pursuit for the last year. The more I learn about the Catholic perspective on Christianity, the more confused I have become about how Pope Francis could ever have been considered for the papacy under the Catholic tenets, given his world view.
I never agreed with what he was trying to do but I still feel sad on this day. May he rest in peace.
Same
The atheists and revolutionaries who make the State their religion loved Pope Francis. Yep....that about sums it up. The Vance family met with him and his life's work was done.....hmmmm
Only JD, not family, and it was a very brief meeting of few minutes in a reception area, not a private meeting.
That's when a deadly communicable disease was passed to the Pontif.
Pope died from cerebral stroke
A torch was passed
Depends upon who and what you consider the Church to be.
Too much dependency. Not enough independency.
What if the torch was extinguished 🤔
According to Zoroastrianism, if the eternal flame is extinguished, it would have a significant impact. The eternal flame symbolizes the dynamism and transformative power of life, representing the constant cycle of birth, growth, decay, and renewal. The fire serves as a reminder of the eternal flame of life, even amidst changes and challenges3.
As a conservative fallen catholic, I think he’s the worst pope since WW2 when the Vatican collaborated with the Nazi.
I would put Cardinal Ratzinger, formerly the horrific head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, aka The Inquisition, right up there as one of the most despicable a who have sat in that seat. I, a Catholic convert who walked that path with rapture — for a decade.