"Francis II": Ivereigh admits that Leo “will continue to build the synodal Church of which Francis dreamed,” and will “reformulate” his predecessor’s themes “in more Augustinian terms.” Different tone. Same revolution.
Francis II: How the Catholic Left Saw It Coming and the Right Pretended Not To
Francis II: How the Catholic Left Saw It Coming and the Right Pretended Not To
Liberal Applause and Traditionalist Amnesia in the Wake of Pope Leo XIV’s Election
When Pope Leo XIV emerged on the loggia, the left didn’t hesitate. They didn’t wring their hands or wonder aloud. They didn’t need time to observe. They knew. James Martin, Thomas Reese, Blase Cupich, Austen Ivereigh: every major progressive voice in the post-conciliar Church erupted with praise. And why wouldn’t they? They got exactly what they wanted.
Commonweal Magazine wasted no time framing Leo’s election as the natural continuation of Francis. Austen Ivereigh, Francis’s biographer and chief PR man, openly declared Leo XIV’s rise as “proof” that the “change of era inaugurated by Francis is here to stay.”
His detailed report reveals that Cardinal Prevost’s name surfaced not through a groundswell of surprise, but because he had already been groomed for it. For two years, Francis met privately with him every Saturday.…