We first heard from Pope Leo's humble brother John. Now we learn he has a volatile-ish brother Louis. This will make him eminently more qualified for this job and every person on the planet will empathize with him. He is relatable. Siblings form us.
Thank you for this column and for the report from the conference - what an amazing, inspiring lineup - and for naming the conference for Harry, journalism's Northstar, not just yours. Sending love and admiration from Porto
Tina, your writing is second to none. Thanks for the clarity. I agree with you 100 percent. Let me say that just seeing and initially hearing Rob from Chicago—now Pope Leo—was a huge relief and brought a sense of beatific calm we haven’t felt from any leader (other than Francis—who, as you rightly point out, was still, despite his enormous moral influence, a distant foreigner).
I’m Jewish, and I thought to myself: with leaders like these (Francis and now Leo), the Catholic Church is reshaping itself as a strong moral, humanistic, and spiritual voice in this crazy, materialistic, and self-centered, media-addicted world. It has once again become the supreme moral voice in the world—not just for the downtrodden, but for everyone who feels that materialism, nepotism, greed, celebrity culture and violence have spun out of control, and that a reset is needed.
Clearly for Trump this is a problem because he thrives on all those: materialism, nepotism, greed, celebrity culture and certain kind of violence, whether outright, verbal or implied. These are his currencies.
As you wrote quoting Leon Wieseltier (another great Leo…) :
“Money is his country; and more money is his diplomacy, a kind of one-man imperialism.” And I say :
materialism, nepotism, greed, celebrity culture and certain kind of violence are his currencies.
And Pope Leo will literally trump those cause he is now the “other” America leader of global stature not motivated by ANY of those.
God Bless Francis for setting this up. God Protect and empower this new Pope to lead the world to a better place.
One thing about Louis Prevost interviews : doesn’t seem to me they are close or have close contact. But beyond that I heard him say something that was amazing to me:
He said that Pope Leo knew his calling from when he was a little boy. That everyone used to go out and play boy games and he played priest and made his brothers come to his Mass in the basement. Talk about being divinely chosen.
And I wouldn’t worry about the fluffy interviews with his Louis - who doesn’t seem like the sharpest tool in the shed - they are as transient as yesterday’s newspaper. Not worth the paper they are printed on. Louis.
Pope Leo hopefully has 25 years to impact the world. Long after his brother’s words will be long forgotten.
What an absolutely fabulous article. I immediately thought of Lara and Yuri Zhivago as you were describing the notes from Nalvany. Everyone you wrote about was fantastic.
OMG about the Pope's brother:🙏😂
"Did anyone in the Vatican look at Louis’s own Facebook page? The Daily Beast did. And sweet Jesus! It turns out Louis is a jeering MAGA blabbermouth who has posted such rants as: “Back in the earlier days of our country, before lefties took over and ruined our schools, all these lefty dems would’ve been tarred, feathered and rode out of town on a donkey, or worse, shot or strung up.” Or this repost about Nancy Pelosi: “These f---ing liberals crying about tariffs is just unreal. Do they not know that there is a thing called video? Just listen to what this drunk c--t has to say in the mid-90’s long before her husband had grindr dates.”
I am reminded of Jimmy Carter and his brother Buddy, and Bill Clinton with his brother Roger (codename : Headache). Like they say, "you can choose your friends but you can't choose your relatives".
Thanks and of course most of us have someone in the family who goes off piste and couldn't withstand the blazing scrutiny of a Pope's brother. So glad you enjoyed reading about our Truth Teller heroes. They were so humbling, frankly T
You are my hero. I viewed several episodes of your Truth TellerConf in Harry’s Memory. Eye Opening and so informative. Please try and interview Rachel Maddow, her info about the gov. And Social Security is chilling.
Thanks so much dear Christopher. Try and come next year! Time for dinner replay except my corner brasserie has closed along with so much on my block.xxx T
Thanks for the postscript, Tina. Free speech urgently needs a champion around the world. Here’s hoping the American pope might help, although Catholic precedent on blasphemy laws makes me cautious.
I caught several of the panel discussions (on YouTube) from the Truth Tellers Summit and it was great to hear what honesty, bravery and courage looks like again. Thank you Tina and long live the free press!
This left me feeling hopeful. For the church, for the press,and for the people. Thank you for filling in the blanks that I missed about Pope Leo’s brother Louis. I sensed some issues. Loved reading this!🤗
We first heard from Pope Leo's humble brother John. Now we learn he has a volatile-ish brother Louis. This will make him eminently more qualified for this job and every person on the planet will empathize with him. He is relatable. Siblings form us.
You are right as long as he doesn't KEEP doing it. Amazing that since i filed he's already popped up on PIers Morgan! T
Oh geez..
I was going to make a similar comment but not as well!
Thank you for this column and for the report from the conference - what an amazing, inspiring lineup - and for naming the conference for Harry, journalism's Northstar, not just yours. Sending love and admiration from Porto
Thanks dearest Kev and hope you will be in town for it next time. Has really become a " thing" T
Tina, your writing is second to none. Thanks for the clarity. I agree with you 100 percent. Let me say that just seeing and initially hearing Rob from Chicago—now Pope Leo—was a huge relief and brought a sense of beatific calm we haven’t felt from any leader (other than Francis—who, as you rightly point out, was still, despite his enormous moral influence, a distant foreigner).
I’m Jewish, and I thought to myself: with leaders like these (Francis and now Leo), the Catholic Church is reshaping itself as a strong moral, humanistic, and spiritual voice in this crazy, materialistic, and self-centered, media-addicted world. It has once again become the supreme moral voice in the world—not just for the downtrodden, but for everyone who feels that materialism, nepotism, greed, celebrity culture and violence have spun out of control, and that a reset is needed.
Clearly for Trump this is a problem because he thrives on all those: materialism, nepotism, greed, celebrity culture and certain kind of violence, whether outright, verbal or implied. These are his currencies.
As you wrote quoting Leon Wieseltier (another great Leo…) :
“Money is his country; and more money is his diplomacy, a kind of one-man imperialism.” And I say :
materialism, nepotism, greed, celebrity culture and certain kind of violence are his currencies.
And Pope Leo will literally trump those cause he is now the “other” America leader of global stature not motivated by ANY of those.
God Bless Francis for setting this up. God Protect and empower this new Pope to lead the world to a better place.
One thing about Louis Prevost interviews : doesn’t seem to me they are close or have close contact. But beyond that I heard him say something that was amazing to me:
He said that Pope Leo knew his calling from when he was a little boy. That everyone used to go out and play boy games and he played priest and made his brothers come to his Mass in the basement. Talk about being divinely chosen.
And I wouldn’t worry about the fluffy interviews with his Louis - who doesn’t seem like the sharpest tool in the shed - they are as transient as yesterday’s newspaper. Not worth the paper they are printed on. Louis.
Pope Leo hopefully has 25 years to impact the world. Long after his brother’s words will be long forgotten.
Loved these thoughtful and smart reflections. Let's pray that Leo will be the great moral counterpoint T
What an absolutely fabulous article. I immediately thought of Lara and Yuri Zhivago as you were describing the notes from Nalvany. Everyone you wrote about was fantastic.
OMG about the Pope's brother:🙏😂
"Did anyone in the Vatican look at Louis’s own Facebook page? The Daily Beast did. And sweet Jesus! It turns out Louis is a jeering MAGA blabbermouth who has posted such rants as: “Back in the earlier days of our country, before lefties took over and ruined our schools, all these lefty dems would’ve been tarred, feathered and rode out of town on a donkey, or worse, shot or strung up.” Or this repost about Nancy Pelosi: “These f---ing liberals crying about tariffs is just unreal. Do they not know that there is a thing called video? Just listen to what this drunk c--t has to say in the mid-90’s long before her husband had grindr dates.”
I am reminded of Jimmy Carter and his brother Buddy, and Bill Clinton with his brother Roger (codename : Headache). Like they say, "you can choose your friends but you can't choose your relatives".
Thanks and of course most of us have someone in the family who goes off piste and couldn't withstand the blazing scrutiny of a Pope's brother. So glad you enjoyed reading about our Truth Teller heroes. They were so humbling, frankly T
You're the best!
Bravo!! Thanks for the inspiring words.
and so glad you are a reader ! T
Liars have always been rewarded, but generally when they're found out, people turn against them.
That doesn't seem to be happening anymore.
I Know it's deeply dispiriting. Lets hope it's just an era and not forever T
You are my hero. I viewed several episodes of your Truth TellerConf in Harry’s Memory. Eye Opening and so informative. Please try and interview Rachel Maddow, her info about the gov. And Social Security is chilling.
Blown away by this. Bravi, Truth Tellers. Brava, Tina. Best post yet.
Thanks so much dear Christopher. Try and come next year! Time for dinner replay except my corner brasserie has closed along with so much on my block.xxx T
Welp - I read this in the morning, and tonight Louis Prevost on Piers Morgan pops up on my YouTube.
Wasn't that amazing? Took exactly 24 hours ! T
Thanks for the postscript, Tina. Free speech urgently needs a champion around the world. Here’s hoping the American pope might help, although Catholic precedent on blasphemy laws makes me cautious.
I am now very heartened by all his utterances this week. Thanks for this! T
I caught several of the panel discussions (on YouTube) from the Truth Tellers Summit and it was great to hear what honesty, bravery and courage looks like again. Thank you Tina and long live the free press!
This left me feeling hopeful. For the church, for the press,and for the people. Thank you for filling in the blanks that I missed about Pope Leo’s brother Louis. I sensed some issues. Loved reading this!🤗
delighted that it hit home! T
Tears in my eyes. Thank you for this moving article.
So glad you appreciated it. We all need some uplift ! T
So necessary to be reminded that courage still exists, and I'm profoundly grateful to TB for showing us the way. Blessings on these great humans,
Thank you and so glad you felt that way. We all need some heroes to admire in dark times! T
Mucho gracias !