Trump and The Pope’s Legitimacy

The kerfluffle over the last several days instigated by Pope Leo and countered by President Trump has been interesting.

While I had some level of hope that Leo would turn out to be less liberal than Francis, that has turned out not to be the case. Just like Francis, he is a political actor.

Trump was precisely right to tell Leo that he should stay within his proper lane. He has no particular expertise in the matters of state on which he has commented; and it turns out that some of his political positions are outright unbiblical.

Protestants by definition reject the authority of the pope and question his legitimacy. However, there are forces within the Catholic Church that are also making an interesting challenge.

The abdication of Pope Benedict followed by the election of Francis always seemed a bit fishy. Now, this is being challenged in a Vatican court. It is being alleged that Benedict intended to relinquish his position as Bishop of Rome; but wanted to retain the papacy.

The implications are enormous because Francis as Pope chose many cardinals who in turn elected Leo. If Benedict’s abdication was invalid, then Leo’s and Francis’ respective elections to the papacy are also invalid.

I somehow doubt that this challenge will succeed. But there is no question that the Catholic Church has been infiltrated and undermined. Benedict– and John Paul II before him– were fairly orthodox; but Francis and Leo have been moderate/ left, at best.

I also suspect that many conservative American Catholics agree with Trump’s criticism of Leo.