Leo Is Continuing Francis' Agenda With A Smile

Time for a 2025 reality check.

As 2025 comes to a close it’s important to recall where we’ve been, where we are at now, and where we are headed under this new regime — and I do use that word intentionally.

Just days after the conclave, influencers from across the Catholic media landscape — most especially the “traditional” ones — started singing the same tune: “we are so back!” Those who did not fall for this psy-op (including yours truly) had to remind everyone that no, we are not back, and that Leo is Francis 2.0. For our courageous efforts, we were rebuked as “doomers” and the cause of “division.”

Over the past eight months there has been a wider and wider gulf emerging between ourselves and Trad Inc. New alliances are being formed and new gatekeeping measures are being taken to ensure that those who oppose the “zip it” policy of Michael Matt are kept at bay.

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But Trads like you know better. The growth of this blog (and our YouTube channel) as well as the increasing popularity of Catholic Esquire, Chris Jackson, WM Review, and others is proof positive that more Catholics are seeing through the charade Trad Inc. is putting on.

I plan on releasing a new podcast in the coming days discussing all of this and more. I want to look ahead to what is likely to happen in the Church in the coming year within the context of what transpired in 2025. For now, I want to provide a brief recap of what Leo has done so far. Contrary to what some influencers have said, there are not a lot of “wins” here.

• Told Catholics “we want to be a Synodal Church, a Church that moves forward” on the balcony of St. Peter’s just minutes after the conclave.

• Sent a letter to the American Jewish Committee the day he was elected, pledging his commitment to “dialogue and cooperation with the Jewish people.”

• Told Crux magazine he “hope[s] to continue in the footsteps of Francis, including in appointing women to some leadership roles at different levels in the Church’s life.”

• Approved a rule that allows not only cardinals but “other members” including women to run Vatican City. The move allowed Francis’ appointment, Sr. Raffaella Petrini, to remain in the job.

• Selected Sr. Tiziana Merletti to serve as the Secretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

• Promoted Cardinal Cupich to serve on the pontifical commission for Vatican City State. Cupich, who is 76 and is past retirement age, has not had his resignation accepted, though Dolan of New York’s was.

• While speaking about Church doctrine and LGBT issues, Leo told Crux, “we have to change attitudes before … we even think about changing what the Church says about any given question.”

• Under his watch, an LGBT pilgrimage took take place inside St. Peter’s. He also met with Jesuit priest James Martin, who said Leo "wants to continue Pope Francis' message of inclusion and welcome, and above all, openness to LGBTQ Catholics."

• Told the media if a politician says they are against abortion but supports the death penalty then that person “is not really pro-life.” Also said if a politician is against abortion but is “in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States,’ I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”

• Approved a document authored by Cardinal Fernandez that says it is “always inappropriate” to refer to the Blessed Virgin Mary as Co-Redemptrix.

• Has kept Fernandez in his role as the head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith despite new evidence he wrote X-rated books.

• Prayed with followers of false religions at the Colosseum in Rome to honor the 60th year anniversary of Nostra Aetate. Also held a ceremony inside Paul VI Hall honoring that document.

• Published In Unitate Fidei, which calls for Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox to “leave behind theological controversies that have lost their raison d’être in order to develop a common understanding.”

• Has omitted the Filioque while praying with representatives of the Orthodox sect.

• Released Dilexi Te, which presents Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as a social justice warrior. The document makes many arguments previously put forward by liberation theologians.

• Approved a “married” homosexual chef from Chicago previously selected by Francis to act as the head of food services at a “green” restaurant being constructed at Castel Gandalfo.

• In July, told French boy scouts that the earth is our “common home” and that people need to have an inner “conversion” to caring for the planet.

• Blessed a piece of ice during a neo-pagan ceremony at Castel Gandalfo in October. Spoke about the need to listen the “cry of the earth.” The incident preceded a UN conference on climate change. Leo later sent a message to the gathering — officially dubbed the COP30 — in November, stating, “If you want to cultivate peace, care for creation.”

• Has been accused of covering up abuse of a Peruvian priest friend named Fr. Eleuterio Vásquez Gonzáles (“Fr. Lute”) while he was Bishop of the Diocese of Chiclayo.

• Has appointed multiple bishops to dioceses across the world who have liberal track records, including support for pro-LGBT policies and open borders.

• Has said nothing publicly about the crackdown on Latin Masses and traditional liturgical practices in Detroit, Charlotte, and other dioceses in the United States.

Did I miss anything? What isn’t on this list that should be? Let me know in the comments. Wishing you a happy and holy start to 2026!

- Stephen