Trump administration has riled head of Catholic church over use of theology to justify conflict in Iran
The contrast in experience between the two men disagreeing over war and theology was striking.
On the one side was Pope Leo XIV, the first North American to head the Catholic church and the first cleric from the Augustinian order, who this week visited the modern Algerian city where Saint Augustine once lived. For Leo, who wrote his doctoral thesis on Augustine’s ideas, it was the culmination of a lifelong intellectual interest.
On the other, the US vice-president, JD Vance, a very recent adult convert to Catholicism with no academic background in the history of the church’s thinking.
I dont think a lot of people understood what a groundbreaking, radical change this was when Francis made it. Doctrine says clearly that there are a limited number of conditions for a catholic to participate in violence, basically self defense, to prevent others from certain harm, or a just war. Francis removed one of the key reasons cited for catholic to engage in nationalistic warfare without damning their souls.
And given-- Francis was also far from perfect. But he had giant balls and a sense to at least try to do the right thing. Even as an atheist, I miss that guy. What a legendary Chad. (the modern complimentary form of chad).
And stuff like this is exactly why the vatican is generally hostile to popes with a Jesuit background.
(I’m a Gen X ex-catholic)