What will the pope say next?

Pope Leo says God doesn't listen to the prayers of those who "wage war." Really? History tells a different story. Pope Urban II and Pope Gregory X both called for crusades to take back the Holy Land from the Muslims. And then there is the significance of the Battle of Lepanto that saved Europe from Islam's advance. Had the West not "waged war" we would likely all be answering the Islamic call to prayer today. Yes, blessed are the peacemakers, but sometimes peace has to be won through war.

Is the pope ignorant of history? Who set up the Holy League led by Don Juan of Austria? Pope Pius V. Chesterton's stirring poem about the battle is a testimony to the courage of those who answered the pope's call. Yes, they "waged war" unapologetically. They battled against Islam, a war that continues today in an unbloody way using fertility and migration to overthrow the suicidal families of the West who kill their children.

Chesterton describes the pope's call to war and describes Don Juan as the "last knight of Europe." Listen to the poem and ask yourself if the miracle of the changing wind and the victory of the Holy League shown to Pope V in a vision weren't an answer to the prayers of the warriors and the pope who sent them into battle. Mary interceded for them and the pope established the Feast of the Holy Rosary in thanksgiving.

We are called the Church Militant, not the Church Picnic. Our principle battle takes place within each of us, the battle against sin. But to make such a foolish statement as the pope did is one more head-shaking untruth. Obviously there are unjust wars, but they do not destroy the principle. Jesus said Himself that He came to divide. Sometimes divisions are so serious they end up on the literal battlefield as they often did in the Old Testament and still do today. 

But during this Holy Week let us fight the battle within against our sinful nature. Our enemy is Satan and we must be always vigilant against his wiles and devious ways to seduce us. May we have the courage of Don Juan and the wisdom of Pope Pius V as we call on St. Michael to "defend us in battle." And let us pray earnestly for the pope who continues the state of confusion we've suffered under for decades.

May Jesus Christ be praised!