If the mainstream media were the sole source of news, one would be forgiven for thinking that Donald Trump is omnipresent on the Pope’s mind this week, but doing so would commit the error of presuming that America is the only country in the world that the Church views as worthy of consideration.
The role of a Vatican correspondent is admittedly niche and – barring the rare occasion when the secular world turns its attention to Rome – generally consists in attempting to explain to readers why papal events or speeches are worthy of their consideration instead of the latest political scandal. Not so in recent days, however, since for days on end Leo XIV has barely been able to escape the headlines as he has been placed in juxtaposition to President Donald Trump, as some kind of political foil or Democratic Party champion.
