Letters from Leo — the American Pope & US Politics

Letters from Leo — the American Pope & US Politics

The Night the Church Changed Forever

On March 13, 2013, a Jesuit from Buenos Aires stepped onto the loggia of St. Peter's and subverted 1200 years of papal ceremony with a single act of humility — and the Church has never been the same.

Christopher Hale's avatar
Christopher Hale
Mar 13, 2026
∙ Paid

Thank you for reading! Letters from Leo is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Make A One-Time Gift to Support My Work

Thirteen years ago tonight, the loggia doors at St. Peter’s opened and a 76-year-old cardinal from Buenos Aires looked out at 100,000 rain-soaked pilgrims and said: “Buonasera!”

Good evening.

User's avatar

Continue reading this post for free, courtesy of Christopher Hale.

Or purchase a paid subscription.
© 2026 Christopher Hale · Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start your SubstackGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture