May 12, 2025
Writes a good friend:
Lew:
I am taking a wait-and-see attitude toward the new Pope even though many conservative Catholics seem extremely disappointed in this pick.
It is my understanding that during his many years in Peru, he witnessed the terror, death, and destruction of the infamous Communist Maoist Shining Path guerrillas who ravaged the area.
Rather than embrace them as Pope Francis may have done with his liberation theology sympathies, Leo opposed them vigorously and spoke out against them, which was a brave thing to do at the time.
And being a homeboy from old Chicago, growing up under the shadow of Mayor Richard Daley, who was a staunch old school Democrat and Catholic, makes me think Leo is more moderate in his leanings than first advertised.
We shall see.
P.S. Today, some commentators are now saying Leo was a Registered Republican.
