Letters from Leo — the American Pope & US Politics

Letters from Leo — the American Pope & US Politics

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July 2025

I Love Pope Leo, But I Miss Pope Francis — And That's Okay
On St. Ignatius’s Feast, I share three overlooked moments that reveal the Jesuit soul of Pope Francis.
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Christopher Hale
10
Bob and Chito — The Cardinal Friendship Behind Pope Leo's Election
As the conclave neared electing him, Leo began to panic. Cardinal Tagle quietly offered him candy to help him calm down.
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Christopher Hale
4
Chicagoan Delivers Deep Dish to the Pope in St. Peter’s Square
A deep-dish delivery to St. Peter’s Square reminds us that Pope Leo hasn’t forgotten where he came from.
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Christopher Hale
16
"We Want Peace in the World!” — Pope Leo Makes Surprise Plea to 100,000 Youth
In an unscheduled vigil appearance, Pope Leo closed the Jubilee Mass for Youth with a spontaneous appeal for global peace — marking a defining moment in…
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Christopher Hale
7
Pope to Influencers: Stop Being Online Assholes
The pope’s message to influencers was clear — stop weaponizing faith and start spreading compassion online.
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Christopher Hale
30
Pope Leo's Personal Trainer Didn't Know Who His Client Was
Valerio Masella, 26, had no idea his client was even a priest — until he saw him step onto the balcony of St. Peter’s as the new pope.
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Christopher Hale
3
Pope Leo Should Go to Gaza
Why Pope Leo's presence could change the course of peace in the world's most troubled region.
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Christopher Hale
43
Leo and Francis — The Friendship That Changed the Church and the World
This is the story about how a Buenos Aires clash transformed into a friendship that reshaped faith, politics, and power.
3
Leo XIV's Barber Didn't Know He Was Cutting the Pope's Hair
Two weeks after his election, Pope Leo called his old barber: “Mario, it’s Robert Prevost. Can you come to my house for a haircut?”
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Christopher Hale
12
What I Saw — And Felt — At Pope Francis's Funeral
Three months on, Francis’s legacy is only beginning to reveal its depth — for the Church, Pope Leo, and the entire world.
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Christopher Hale
6
© 2025 Christopher Hale
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