Weekly Summary: 4/18/26
The week in review, from the perspective of a veteran Catholic journalist
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Well, you all know what the big news was this week:
Articles
Early in the reign of Pope Francis I was sometimes criticized for “popesplaining”—trying to provide an acceptable interpretation of the Pontiff’s troubling statements. I took that criticism to heart. Reacting to President Trump’s deranged Truth Social attack on Pope Leo, I suggested that “Trumpsplainers” learn the same lesson.”
On the Home Front, Leila and I spent some time sorting through the Trump-Pope Leo fracas, concluding that we’re appalled by the president’s outburst, but not altogether happy with the papal statements, either. Then Leila lightened the atmosphere, talking about gardening and the books by Beverley Nichols.
Notes
President Trump’s style of communication is the polar opposite of Abraham Lincoln’s style, as explained by Frederick Douglas.
One sentence in the notorious Truth Social post struck me as particularly irrational, since President Trump was calling attention to the most glaring failure of his first term in the Oval Office— in an attempt to criticize Pope Leo, who had nothing to do with it!
And it’s now been four months since the publication of Ghost Runner. Have you read it yet
?