Yesterday, the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio sat down to meet with Pope Leo XIV for around two hours. During the meeting, the Secretary gifted the Pope a small crystal American style football bearing the seal of the American State Department. The Pope's feelings about the game are a little murky, although since he is originally from Chicago one would guess, as presumably Rubio did, he is a Chicago Bears fan. Since the State Department doesn't field a team, it remains a mystery why the ball was stamped with its seal. Maybe the Bears' licensing fee was too steep for the department's budget. After all, thanks to recent events, Rubio has been on the road a lot and the cost and availability of jet fuel is at a premium lately.
The football was a symbolic peace offering as the Secretary was there to try to smooth out the relationship between the Vatican and his boss, American President Donald Trump. Apparently, at some point in the last couple of weeks, as Trump's approval ratings flame out like the Hindenburg, it dawned on someone in the White House, the old man has finally bitten off more than even can chew.
Not that long ago, as the spiritual leader of a little over 1.4 billion Christians worldwide--somewhere between 50 to 54 million of them in the United States--spoke publicly about his opposition to the war in Iran and in fact all wars. He had urged everyone involved to seek peace, not violence. Donald Trump responded on social media--as always--writing, in part, "Pope Leo is WEAK on crime. and terrible for foreign policy. I don't want a Pope who thinks it's okay for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don't want a Pope who thinks it's terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States." Then, he added, "Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a politician." Along with all that, Axios reported, Trump claimed Leo had been elected Pope only because he was President and then had gone ballistic when the Pontiff met with former Obama advisor, David Axelrod the week before.
Then, less than one hour after that message hit the internet, Donald Trump posted the infamous AI generated image of himself as Jesus Christ. He was clothed long flowing robes, healing a sick man in bed as people around him prayed, eagles and jet fighters soared overhead, and a mysterious winged and possibly horned figure charged out of a heavenly light in the background. Later, as it dawned on him the reaction to the image wasn't, let's say, what he had hoped it would be, the post was deleted. It was replaced by another, which depicted Christ personally advising him as he sat at a desk pondering various papers.
Now, we are getting a clearer look at just how bad the reaction, especially to the first image, was. A recent Washington Post-ABC News-IPSOS poll shows 80% of the people who voted for Trump in 2024 "reacted negatively," to the image. 78% of registered republicans felt the same way. Overall, 87% of Americans rejected his online fantasy artwork. In addition, 65% of the public, "reacted positively," to Leo's plea for Americans to seek peace. 41% viewed the Pope favorably during his dust up with the President while 19% did not. Axios reported that when asked this question many either declined to answer or claimed they were unfamiliar with the confrontation.
After deleting the original post, Donald Trump said he simply thought it was a picture of him as a doctor. The comment prompted one wag to say, "If I'm sick and in a hospital and a doctor came in dressed like that, I'm getting out of there as fast as I can." Trump later claimed the image had something to do with the Red Cross, although the Red Cross flag, or symbol isn't seen anywhere in it. All of which just goes to prove, you might be able to claim you are blessed, or anointed by God, but when you start portraying yourself as God, even the trailer park rubes get a tad edgy.
Of course, not everyone was as appalled as Marjorie Taylor Greene (The picture was, "beyond blasphemy.") White House spiritual advisor, Paula White-Cain was quoted as saying she could never disagree with Donald Trump, "because it would be like disagreeing with God." Vice President J.D. Vance, a convert to Roman Catholicism, warned the Pope to be, "careful when speaking about theology." It is a warning the Vice President himself might do well to heed.
Today, Rubio is trying to smooth out the diplomatic kinks with Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni. After she criticized Trump's post about Leo XIV, she also took time to be critical of the war in Iran. The President's reaction was what you would expect. Among other things he threatened to pull U.S. troops out of her country, the same as he did when German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz criticized the war.
Unfortunately, and no doubt frustratingly for Donald Trump, he can't do that with Pope Leo XIV. Vatican City doesn't house any American troops for mutual defense. He can't even slap any tariffs on it. You can't tax faith, the Holy See's only export. And it's doubtful, Donald Trump, as nuts as he is, will attempt a forcible, "regime change," in Rome, like he has done, with questionable success, in Venezuela and Iran. Not even a newly minted Catholic theologian like J.D. Vance would stick with him if he did.
The simple fact is, all of this came about is because of Donald J. Trump's unhinged narcissism. His only response to those who disagree with him is boorish, brutal, and increasingly deadly buffoonery. He isn't capable of anything else.
And just think, we elected this mad beast twice. No wonder, to rephrase a movie line, America enjoys the reputation it has today.
5-8-26
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