Haunted by Papal Ghosts
Papal conclaves are a big deal. The one that elected Pope Leo XIV was only my third, as it was for everyone just shy of 50 years old. And, barring tragedy for either Pope Leo or myself, I only have maybe two or three more.
A papal conclave is the kind of major event a person only experiences a handful of times in their life. Such experiences take on a special significance in part because of the meaning of the event itself—but especially because of their rarity.
Hence the grand excitement over the election of Cardinal Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV. I confess, I have been caught up in it as well. The magnitude of the moment; the election of an American; the name—all of it felt historical, and it’s made being Catholic feel more fun than it has been since perhaps the last conclave.
But I’ve also looked askance at some of the celebrations within my own religion. It’s been a while since the last conclave, sure, but this one seemed a bit different somehow, in ways that often just felt weird.
For one, there was the immediate and gushing praise for the new pope before he even said a word. It’s what The Pillar called a Leonine honeymoon. As the lovely folks at The Pillar pointed out, it’s not a bad thing. Honeymoons are a natural and wholesome part of a budding relationship. A quick acceptance of our new leader, a rush of filial warmth for our new papa, and a curious desire to know the man under the tiara are all wonderful signs of the Holy Spirit within the faithful. And, to my mind, they are proper manifestations o
Article from LewRockwell
LewRockwell.com is a libertarian website that publishes articles, essays, and blog posts advocating for minimal government, free markets, and individual liberty. The site was founded by Lew Rockwell, an American libertarian political commentator, activist, and former congressional staffer. The website often features content that is critical of mainstream politics, state intervention, and foreign policy, among other topics. It is a platform frequently used to disseminate Austrian economics, a school of economic thought that is popular among some libertarians.
