My Wednesday Letters from Leo Substack Live wasn’t just another conversation — it was an honest reckoning among two Millennial Catholcis about the Church we love, the wounds we carry, and the hope we refuse to abandon.
Thank you to
A Conversation Rooted in Reality and Hope
This week, I had the privilege of sitting down with Colleen Dulle, one of America’s sharpest Vatican reporters, for a deep dive into Pope Leo’s first hundred days, the generational crisis of trust facing Catholics today, and her remarkable new book, Struck Down, Not Destroyed.
Part memoir, part spiritual field guide, Struck Down, Not Destroyed isn’t written from the safe distance of an observer’s desk.
Colleen writes from the trenches — as a believer who has felt the heartbreak of betrayal by the institution she serves.
Our generation has grown up in the shadow of abuse cover-ups, hypocrisy, and moral failure from leaders who should have been shepherds.
And yet, as Colleen’s story makes clear, countless young Catholics still show up, still pray, still believe.
Colleen writes from the trenches — not as a detached observer, but as a believer who has felt the heartbreak of betrayal by the institution she serves.
Our generation has grown up in the shadow of abuse cover-ups, hypocrisy, and repeated moral failure from leaders who should have been shepherds.
Yet somehow, against all odds, we and countless Millennial Catholics still show up, still pray, still believe.
A Moment Unlike Any Other
Colleen and I also explored one of the most unprecedented moments in modern Catholic history: the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago as Pope Leo XIV — the first-ever American pope.
When the conclave chose him in May 2025, it shocked experts who insisted there would never be an American pope. But in the United States, the reaction was electric. Pride rippled through parishes and dioceses from coast to coast — even Cubs fans found themselves cheering for Rome.
Three months later, the surge of interest hasn’t faded. “The interest of the American people, religious or not, Catholic or not, seems to be a bit higher with Leo,” I told Colleen during our conversation.
Pope Francis inspired loyalty worldwide, but Leo’s papacy has sparked something Francis never quite did here at home — a sense that Rome finally understands the American Catholic experience.
The “Leo Effect” in Action
That connection goes deeper than national pride. American Catholic life has been in a prolonged crisis — battered by scandal, declining attendance, and political polarization. Leo’s election injected a rare jolt of optimism.
Some parishes are already reporting a small but steady “Leo effect” in Mass attendance. And yet, Leo hasn’t been a headline-chasing disruptor.
He’s no “Francis the Troublemaker.” Instead, as Colleen and I discussed, he’s “Leo the Lawyer” — measured, steady, governance-focused.
He’s restored certain traditions, avoided bombshell remarks, and shown no rush for sweeping change. This quiet, deliberate style hasn’t dampened interest — it’s fueled intrigue.
“There’s so much mystery around him,” Colleen said. “He’s not giving us a lot of clues right now about what to expect.”
That suspense is part of the draw.
Two Stories of Renewal
In their own ways, both Colleen’s memoir and Leo’s early papacy share a single undercurrent: renewal amid crisis. Our generation has learned to hope without illusions, to hold faith without naïveté.
Now, unexpectedly, an American pope is giving the Church in the U.S. a reason to reimagine itself. Whether this leads to lasting spiritual renewal is still an open question — but for the first time in a long time, Catholics across America are watching Rome with anticipation.
Your Invitation
This is your moment to join them.
Anyone who purchases an annual subscription or makes an equivalent or greater donation to Letters from Leo from any link in this post will receive a free copy of Colleen Dulle’s Struck Down, Not Destroyed.
The offer is good until Sunday, August 17 at 11:59 PM EDT.
Subscribe today, claim your copy, and be part of a growing community determined to build a Church that is more just, more humble, and more holy — one that refuses to be struck down, and will not be destroyed.
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