Pope Leo XIV speaks to the media on the U.S.–Israeli conflict with Iran, as he leaves the papal residence to head back to the Vatican, in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, April 7, 2026. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
“The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters!”
“Blessed are the peacemakers, but woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”
-Pope Leo XIV, Thursday speaking to thousands in Cameroon
Before I begin my very short sermon today, I ask you to read the above thunderbolt again, and share it widely.
We are watching history unfold as the Catholic Church publicly makes it clear as day that it stands against anybody who will prostitute the name of God for his own sick, and ill-gotten gains as the morbid Donald Trump continued to do this past weekend with this sickening image.
This is but one example, of course, of this detestable man’s disregard for humanity, religion, and all that must be held as decent in this world. For more than a decade the good and righteous have watched with rage and horror as Trump burned the contents of the Bible to ashes with his grotesque actions and “filth” and it is about time people of moral standing like the Pope are standing with us to put this evil down once and for all.
I cannot recall a time in recent world history when more loaded words have been spoken by a person of such global repute. Leo’s words were shot out of a cannon and aimed directly at the lawless, immoral men like Trump across the globe who are busy trying to drag us all into the “darkness and filth.”
There was no nuance here, because these devils must be stopped dead in their tracks, before it is too late. And as many of us know “too late” is menacingly banging at our doors.
It cannot be overstated how important it is that this Pope from Chicago has injected himself to the front of this battle for what is so clearly good against what is so clearly evil.
You do not have to be a religious person to understand the importance of this history-making moment.
-Either you believe we are in a life-or-deaf struggle against good and evil or you don’t.
-Either you believe our democracies around the world, and certainly here in America, are under extreme threat or you don’t.
-Either you believe our rights as citizens and people are under extreme threat or you don’t.
-Either you believe that everything has to be done to preserve our human freedoms or you don’t.
-Either you believe people like Trump are moral vandals and “filth” or you don’t ...
We now know without a shadow of a doubt what the Pope thinks, and he is shining his powerful light across lands and seas as he calls for this public reckoning with evil.
And lest you think Leo’s words Thursday were directed only at Cameroon’s own separatist conflict, the Vatican was rocket-quick to clarify that. From AP reporting:
“Vatican officials have made clear that on this trip, he is preaching the Gospel message of peace that surpasses borders and continents, and is meant for all those responsible for the wars and exploitation ravaging the Earth.”
The Catholic Church has now come out strong against the Trump regime and drawn a line in the sand. Now we watch to see how the 55 percent of Catholics who supported Trump in the 2024 elections respond.
I wrote extensively on this subject Tuesday, typing:
“The battle has been joined against the maniacal Trump by his countryman Pope Leo XIV, and as a righteous man and warrior for what I believe is good and right, I welcome him with open arms.”
On Thursday Leo only intensified his warning that the course we are on is simply not sustainable, and he intends to make good and damn sure everybody knows it.
Perilous times call for leadership and courage, and too damn many of us have been left alone to fight the evil on the lawless political Right that wants to end us.
I welcome the Pope to this fight, because as I also typed Tuesday:
“I might not be a Christian, but I know an ally when I see one.”
The patriotic phonies and racists who have propped up this orange Antichrist have been put on notice. You can abandon this evil man and join the rest of us democratic crusaders who are standing up for what is good and right, or your reckoning might be coming.
But I’ll let a man who speaks for God say it:
“Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”
D. Earl Stephens is the author of “Toxic Tales: A Caustic Collection of Donald J. Trump’s Very Important Letters” and finished up a 30-year career in journalism as the Managing Editor of Stars and Stripes. You can find all his work here, and follow him on Bluesky here.