Two Pope Leo's

Two Pope Leo’s

Submitted by Thomas Stidl

         Pope Francis has passed to Eternal Life.  The Cardinals under the guidance of the Holy Spirit have selected a new person to fill the shoes of Peter.  He has chosen the name of Leo.  Therefore, He becomes Pope Leo XIV.  He has been charged with leading the Church in a world that is strewn with turmoil.  It is quite possible that we are in apocalyptic times.  The war in Ukraine with Russia shows no signs of stopping as of this writing.  India and Pakistan, which are both nuclear powers, are clashing over Kashmir.  The war in Israel with the Hamas and Hezbolah forces continues.  If any of these conflicts erupts even further, the world may see a nuclear war where about one quarter to one half of the world’s population is destroyed along with much of our planet.

         These are dire words indeed.  I do not envy any world leader in positions of authority grappling with all these problems including the Pope.  The Pope also has the challenge of keeping the Church united and finding solutions to the money problems of the Catholic Church.  All Catholics should be seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Mother, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Heavenly Father for themselves and especially for our new Pope.  The right formula must be found to grow our Catholic Faith.  Some Catholics seek to pray the traditional Tridentine Mass while others prefer our New Mass.  The Church can have both.  Those who prefer the New Mass should also be reminded of our heritage with some prayers being said in Latin.  The Pater Noster, the Sanctus, and the Agnus Dei would be a good start.  After all, we are all one in the Spirit and one in the Lord.  All Catholics must do all that we can to accomplish growth and unity in the Church.

         Getting back to world affairs, I humbly beg Pope Leo XIV to reinstate the prayer composed by Pope Leo XIII to Saint Michael the Archangel at the end of every daily and Sunday Mass.  I say this prayer twice daily for my own protection.  I think that it is time to restart its use worldwide.  The prayer is as follows, “ Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle.  Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil.  May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou Oh Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.  Amen.”  Always remember that Saint Michael leads the soul from Purgatory to our Heavenly Mansion after we die. 

         May God keep, bless, and protect us from the coming wrath of Satan.  May all of us come to enjoy the triumph of Mary’s Immaculate Heart, which is possibly the thousand-year reign of Jesus Christ.

         Until next time, Laus Tibi, Christe.  Deo Gratias.  Gloria Tibi Domini.  Laus Deo.  See you in Paradise.