By their fruits you shall know them. . .

In one of the more curious details about the early days of Leo's papacy, one can note that while he looks the part, he has consistently used the power of appointment to continue the legacy of Frank the First and the progressive agenda.  While I have no doubt that Leo will not become the atheological voice of his predecessor, he has surely become an extension of the same man's penchant for naming people left of center to all kinds of important posts.  For example, in addition to the bishops, Pope Leo XIV appointed 19 new consultants to the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue -- nominations consistent with those made under Pope Francis.  Two examples are Emilce Cuda, who is also secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, who seems hesitant to speak against abortion and the other Mónica Santamarina, a leading figure in the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations (WUCWO) who enjoys complaining about clericalism and too few women in seminaries and church leadership.

What makes this even more incredible is that before becoming Pope, Leo was head of the dicastery which nominated and investigated candidates for the episcopacy across the Roman world.  He, as much as anyone, should have known what kind of men he was appointing as bishops.  The fact that so many of those whom he has appointed seem to tilt left can only be indicative of his own desire to lean in that direction.  If that is the case, then Rome has some big problems down the road -- far bigger than the question of restoring the ability to say the Latin Mass freely.  I know that he has not had much time in the saddle, so to speak, but he has had enough time for us to judge the direction in which he is heading and that does not look good for Rome or for orthodox and traditional Christianity down the road.

It has often been said that a President of US serves at most 8 years but those whom he appoints to the judiciary extend well beyond that limit.  That is certainly the case for bishops also.  Yes, Leo is a great deal younger than Frank was but Frank's imprint upon Rome has been multiplied by the many he appointed as cardinals (especially cardinal electors) and bishops.  The fact that Leo has had multiple opportunities to slow down or reverse course on the direction Frank the First began only signals that he himself is moving in that direction.  While I wish that were not so, I know many Roman Catholics who believe it is exactly the case.

While I have no dog in this hunt, it does mean that those who would have enjoyed some support from Rome will now have to admit that Rome is not going to be a reliable partner for orthodox Christian teaching on marriage, sexual desire, gender identity, and a host of other issues perhaps more important but less attention getting.  It means that groups like the LCMS are increasingly more and more isolated.  The Christian left is a machine and it works very well to scoop up whole denominations, seminaries, universities, and churchly institutions to agree with the progressive agenda.  Plus, that leftward leaning group has learned to be patient and to consolidate gains when the pace of change slows.  Perhaps that is what Leo is doing in Rome.  In any case, if we know the true man by his fruits, they do not look good so far into this papacy.  Not quite a year is not a long time but unless Leo changes course on some things it is enough to say that Leo is more Frank's guy than Benedict's.