Roma Locuta Est

September 6, 2025 (Steven O’Reilly) – Up until now, Roma Locuta Est has not posted on the current pontificate. Our last mention of Pope Leo XIV was on May 10 in an article titled Habemus Papam. In that article, against the doomsayers, I suggested Catholic “be Hopeful and Optimistic – and prayerful” in response to the election of Pope Leo XIV.  So, what is our opinion of Pope Leo XIV at this point, 120 days into his pontificate?

Well, first, against the Benepapists, who are now really neo-sedevacantists, Leo XIV is a true pope. Admittedly, to say a given man is “true pope,” as history has demonstrated, is no guarantee that the Church will be well governed by a good pastor and teacher. The years of Pope Francis are the most recent, and perhaps the best example of this caution – in my opinion – in all of Church history.

Pope Leo XIV and Recent Events

Unfortunately, recent events in Rome have shifted the balance of the scales from optimism to pessimism. Here I have in mind specifically Fr. James Martin’s personal audience with Pope Leo XIV, and the subsequent mass at the Gesu’ in Rome for a homosexual advocacy group.  Both events have been covered elsewhere in Catholic media, so there is no need to rehash them in great detail here. It suffices to say that in speaking of his private audience with the pope, Fr. Martin said:

“I am extremely grateful and deeply consoled by my meeting with the Holy Father. He encouraged me to continue my ministry…Pope Leo has the same openness to L.G.B.T.Q. issues as Pope Francis had. He made clear that he wants everyone to feel welcome…”

[Source: Pope Leo meets with Father James Martin, seen as a sign of support for ministry with L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics, Gerard O’Connell, September 1, 2025]

Fr. Martin was also all over social media commenting on his meeting with Pope Leo, saying in one interview that ‘if people were happy with Pope Francis’ approach to LGBTQ issues, you’ll be happy with Pope Leo’s approach‘ (see HERE).

Any Catholic with any familiarity with Fr. Martin’s so-called “ministry” can conclude his agenda has been to normalize homosexuality in the Catholic Church. For example, he has opposed the wording of the Catholic Catechism on homosexuality. Where the Catechism properly and accurately describes the homosexual inclination as “intrinsically disordered,” Fr. Martin rejects that description, saying of it:

“There is no other phrase that I know [more]than ‘objectively disordered’ and ‘intrinsically disordered,’ which refers to sexual orientation, . . . that has made LGBT people feel so less-than, so subhuman”

(see HERE).

Fr. Martin prefers instead the use of “differently ordered.” Elsewhere, he appears to suggest in tweets that the Church’s teaching on homosexual, i.e., that they are are gravely sinful, might change (see HERE).

There’s more, but that is enough. Fr. Martin’s so-called “ministry” to homosexuals does not include a call to conversion out of an active homosexual lifestyle. Any Catholic with half of a brain knows that. Thus, it is concerning that Pope Leo XIV would meet with him in any way that could be construed as supporting Fr. Martin’s supposed ministry — or giving the appearance the Church does not call active homosexuals, as with any sinner, out of grave sin.

Silence Gives Consent

Now, some may object that we don’t know what Pope Leo XIV actually said to Fr. Martin in that private audience. That, of course, is true. Does it mean the discussion happened the way Martin describes it?  No.  But if Martin mischaracterized the meeting in his public remarks, Leo needs to set the record straight.  Otherwise, as they say: “Qui tacet consentire.” That is, ‘silence gives consent.’

Pope Leo XIV’s silence in the face of Fr. Martin’s claim — of what amounts to a papal endorsement of his “ministry” without any qualification — is scandalous.  Over the years, Catholics have seen their bishops support Fr. Martin, and they’ve seen that support seemingly become the norm among too many local ordinaries. To the great chagrin of Catholics, it seems to have become a scandalous norm among the Bishops of Rome of late.

Therefore, Pope Leo XIV should publicly deny and correct Fr. Martin’s public recollections of their discussion, if he can – in truth – do so. This is the same sort of problem we’ve pointed out with regard to the infamous Scalfari interviews of Pope Francis (see Why blame Scalfari?).

Unfortunately, there is every reason to conclude Fr. Martin’s recollections are correct. This is due to the fact Pope Leo XIV is the bishop of Rome, and he permitted — whether by action or inaction — various homosexual advocacy groups (e.g., La Tenda di Gionata, DignityUSA, and Fr. Martin’s own Outreach) to celebrate a mass at the Gesu’ — the headquarters of the Jesuits — in Rome on September 6, 2025.  The founder of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius of Loyola, who is buried there, must have been rolling about in his tomb. This mass, as with Fr. Martin’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV, is scandalous as it lends credence to an  erroneous perception that the Catholic Church no longer views homosexual acts as gravely sinful.

And all of this follows the disaster and confusion of Fiducia Supplicans, which Pope Leo XIV as Cardinal Prevost appears to have supported (see HERE). The problem with Fiducia Supplicans is that in blessing a same-sex couple, the Church is, or certainly appears to give tacit approval of and a granting of legitimacy to such relationships (see Will Fiducia Supplicans Backfire on Pope Francis?).

Final Thoughts

We are now about 120 days into the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV. In our first article, we noted many causes of concern, not least of which was that he appeared to be the favored choice for the papacy of those like the aforementioned Fr. James Martin, writer Austen Ivereigh, and liberal prelates like Cardinal Cupich of Chicago.

Given the recent events in Rome – including the homosexual groups’ mass today in Rome; I have little expectation for the near term that normality will be restored in Rome. As I noted in my article following his election, the “few positive signs may seem pretty thin.”

I also said at the time “we probably got the best outcome from this Conclave for which we could have reasonably hoped.” That was not intended as a statement of rejoicing. The reality was, Pope Francis had appointed 80% of vote-eligible cardinals. The talk following the death of Francis that we might hope for better was never really “in the cards.”  It was a fleeting dream.

But now, there are voices out there like those in “Sede Inc.”, a loose coalition of ranting Benepapists now turned neo-Sedevacantists, along with ‘under-the-radar‘ sedevacantists looking to ignite and fan the flames of another protestant revolt against Rome. Unfortunately, Rome is providing them the kindling for this fire. Undoubtedly, some Catholics – bewildered by confusion and silence in Rome – will be drawn to them like moths to the flames. But, Catholics need to remember Pope Leo XIV is a true pope. Even as Pope Francis was.  They should reject the spurious arguments of the neo-sedevacantists.

I don’t expect a reversal of Fiducia Supplicans in this pontificate, nor do I expect a correction of Amoris Laetitia in the near term either. As I wrote on the election of Pope Leo XIV:

“For me, the necessary undoing of Amoris Laetitia and holding Pope Francis to account for his pontificate was always going to be a project that might take decades to come to pass.  If we remember the case of Pope Honorius, as I have noted before, it took 40-something years before he was finally “corrected” by Pope St. Leo II, and an ecumenical council.  So, keeping in mind the Church is 2,000 years old, we will need to be patient.  We need to keep in mind the long view of this history of the Church, and of how fast — or how slowly reform and correction may come in the Church’s — and God’s time.”

While my ‘near term’ hope has vanished, I know the Lord is ultimately in control. At some point, the situation will turnaround, though perhaps not under this pope, nor even the next several ones. Here I am thinking of the explicit rejection of such things as Amoris Laetitia, Fiducia Supplicans and the ‘Fr. Martin agenda.’

In the meantime, there is little that individual Catholics can do. For myself, I will not resume contributions to Peter’s Pence until this nonsense is rejected. Beyond that, Catholics should speak up when and where they can with their local ordinaries, and even with the pope through letters, emails, etc., — and, of course, pray, and participate in the sacraments, etc.

Until such time when the confusion is dispelled and clarity restored, let us pray for Pope Leo XIV that he remembers the Lord’s words to Peter: “Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou being once converted, confirm thy brethren” (Luke 22:31-32).

Steven O’Reilly is a graduate of the University of Dallas and the Georgia Institute of Technology. A former intelligence officer, he and his wife, Margaret, live near Atlanta. He has written apologetic articles, and is author of Book I of the Pia Fidelis trilogy, The Two Kingdoms; and of Valid? The Resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. He writes for Roma Locuta Est He can be contacted at StevenOReilly@AOL.com. Follow on Twitter: @S_OReilly_USA.