Pope Leo’s France visit offers Washington a lesson in confronting tyranny
by Michael McKenna · The Washington TimesOPINION:
The Bishop of Rome, the successor to St. Peter and the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, visited France this week. Until the murderous, destructive and ultimately pointless French Revolution, France was known as the “eldest daughter of the church.”
That honorific reflected the fact that, for 1,000 years before the revolution, francophones were the most prominent and effective protectors and benefactors of the Roman church.
Pope Leo XIV visited Paris, Lourdes, and Metz, wrapping up the trip at St. Stephen’s Cathedral. In all, more than 1 million people attended one of his Masses or a recitation of the rosary. That is remarkable for a nation whose official policy toward religion can best be described as hostile.
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After all, it was not that long ago that the predecessors of French President Emmanuel Macron were executing nuns, priests and pretty much anyone else who thought about attending Mass.
Pope Leo’s visit once again emphasized the unavoidable and irreducible reality that Catholicism will outlast all its enemies, no matter how ferocious they seem.
More or less at the same time, President Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping to the White House, even giving him the honor of a state dinner. Mr. Xi is a man who presides over a regime that multiple administrations, including the current one, have identified as engaging in slavery and genocide.
As best we can tell, the Trump administration made no demands during the visit about the release of Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong media proprietor and pro-democracy activist who remains a prisoner of the regime in Beijing, in large measure because he is a Catholic.
Which approach — that of the Catholic Church or that of the administration — is most likely to produce the change we wish to see in China? The direct and unapologetic carrying of the Gospel into all places or trying to make friends with murderers? That is easy.
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Playing nice with regimes that maintain their power through violence never works in the long run. The Catholic Church, unlike most governments, understands that these sorts of contests are generational. Consequently, it is essential to develop the resources that will lead to victory across generations.
I was thinking about that when I came across an organization called Thank a Priest, which is designed to encourage vocations to the priesthood by showing what kinds of people become priests and what a priest’s life looks like. It posts short videos and provides informational and other resources to those interested.
The organization has had about 8 million views, which is a good start. It is a good example of how the Catholic Church is adopting technology and adapting its messages to the next generation.
Pope Leo’s visit to France was a bracing and welcome reminder that believers and practitioners of the faith are everywhere, despite the best efforts of the modern world. The work that Thank a Priest and others are diligently pursuing ensures that those believers will have the pastoral care they will need.
As for those in the United States who want to win generational and existential contests, take a lesson from the Catholic Church: Have some clarity. Do not ever pretend the bad guys are not really that bad. Do not confuse legitimate penance with political stratagems. Always be clear-eyed about regimes that have seized power rather than having it given to them. Never avoid, excuse or explain away their lack of legitimacy.
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• Michael McKenna is a contributing editor at The Washington Times.
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