An American Pope: Why This Matters Now
By
Leonard Zwelling
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/05/09/world/pope-leo-xiv-news
https://www.wsj.com/opinion/leo-xivs-road-from-chicago-to-rome-5ee8bfc9?mod=author_content_page_1_pos_1
I have been given the rare privilege of being a member of the Board of Directors of the San Jose Clinic in downtown Houston which also has a branch in Fort Bend County. This Catholic clinic has been serving the underprivileged of Houston for over 100 years. As far as I can tell, I am the first Jew to serve in its board and, in every way, I have been welcomed.
Over my years of service to this special place, I have learned a bit about the Catholic Church from the inside as the Archdiocese of Houston-Galveston oversees the operations of the clinic and plays a major role in the decisions of the board and implementing those changes the board authorizes. It has been a wonderful education and contrasts mightily with my experience as a board member at Congregation Beth Israel where my Jewish values and upbringing resonated with the values of the institution on whose board I was serving. This is different, I need to be very careful about what I say and how I say it so as never to offend the beliefs of those around me. Miraculously, I have managed to do that while still making a contribution.
All that being said, because of my close affiliation with a Catholic organization, I had a greater interest in this Papal Conclave than in any others in my past.
I was driving home from a workout when I heard that white smoke had arisen from the chimney installed on the Sistine Chapel. I watched with the rest of the world to see who the new Pope was to be expecting it to be an Italian or at least a European.
With another appointment before me, I was back in my car when I heard the astounding news. An American was to be the next Pope. Why did this matter to me?
First, at a time when the United States President has embarrassed the country before the world by insulting our friends and coddling our enemies, we Americans, through an unexpected representative, are being given another chance to show that we really can be a force for good in the world, a world that a close friend and wise man described as “falling apart.”
Second, it seems that the new Pope will be like his predecessor a man of the people and not of the rich and powerful. This is a stark contrast to the political leader of the United States. Perhaps the American spiritual leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics can offset the damage being done by the American President. The United States is looked upon with fear and doubt by the world since January. In one hundred days, the United States government has taken steps that put the world’s economy in danger, unbalanced the limited geopolitical stability established since the Second World War and the end of the Cold War, and, in general, sought to establish a government sympathetic to oligarchs and detached from average Americans. A counterbalance of any kind would be welcomed.
This Jew is really hopeful that this is a sign that the United States can be a force for good in the world despite the wreckage being foisted upon everyone by a misguided, nasty little man in the Oval Office.
There are many things that I have seen in my life that I never thought I would see. We have seen two women run for the presidency. Soon, one will win. A Black man did win. The Mets have won the World Series. So have the Cubs. Sonny Liston was defeated by Cassius Clay. Man walked on the moon. And now, an American is Pope.
I know the most important word in Christianity is faith, but hope can’t be far behind.
The United States has been given a second chance to be a force for good in the world. I don’t think this was an accident. It may even have been a miracle.
6 thoughts on “An American Pope: Why This Matters Now”
We’ll forgive him for rooting against our team in the World Series 😆
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/FEMigUDU5Us
No wonder Chicago won!
Leonard As always I am impressed by your insights notably these on the potential impact of an American who became Pope. As a Catholic who was shaped by 12 years of a Jesuit education I believe Leo follows Francis to accentuate the third word after faith and hope and that being LOVE. Americans have always embodied love from our founding fathers loving liberty to care givers like you and me at MD Anderson and your colleagues at the San Jose clinic lovingly caring for patients. Francis’s message of love was for the Catholic Church to open our arms and embrace those we rejected and now Leo can promote that uniquely American love of “everyone”. Americans are the most philanthropic people, willing to sacrifice the most (ask our VETERANS) and we are the most committed to a better tomorrow for the rest of the world (no other country created an NIH). As Pontiff, Leo will witness to the world how Americans can love when given the privilege to lead. As you point out that is Devine Providence when you need it !
I am convinced this was a miracle
“I am convinced this was a miracle”. As a Catholic Christian who still attends, all I can say is –
“We should be so lucky!”.
Honestly, this is high gravity stuff, but with the talk of Jews and Catholics, and we’ll throw in Long Island, NY, all I could think of was –
(hint) “They say there’s a heaven for those who will wait. Some say it’s better, but I say it ain’t. I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints. The sinners are much more fun.”
Only the good die young!