Bishop Joseph Strickland didn’t hold back as he reacted live to the shocking election of America’s first pope. The former Texas bishop—kicked out by Pope Francis for criticizing his liberal policies—warned faithful Catholics to stay vigilant. “This isn’t a victory lap,” he said. “The wolves are still in the room.”
The new pope, Leo XIV, spent years climbing the ranks under Francis. Conservatives fear he’ll keep pushing divisive ideas like blessing same-sex unions and softening abortion stance. Strickland called the conclave a “battleground” between true believers and radicals trying to “dismantle 2,000 years of truth.”
Pope Leo’s American roots give some hope. He’s a math whiz from Chicago who mowed cemeteries for the Philadelphia Archdiocese. Supporters say his humble, hardworking spirit could reconnect the church with everyday families. But critics note he’s still part of Francis’ inner circle—a red flag for traditionalists.
Strickland knows the cost of speaking out. Francis fired him for slamming the Vatican’s “drift toward woke nonsense.” Now he’s watching closely to see if Leo will crack down on priests who defend traditional marriage or let them preach freely. “The pews are emptying because we’ve lost our backbone,” he argued.
Liberals are celebrating Leo’s election as proof the church will keep “modernizing.” They want female priests, LGBTQ+ inclusivity, and climate activism to take center stage. Strickland shot back: “Since when did the Vatican become a UN subcommittee? Our job is salvation, not appeasing politicians.”
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Over 1.3 billion Catholics are watching to see if Leo XIV resists the globalist agenda or becomes “Francis 2.0.” Strickland urged believers to “pray like your soul depends on it” but warned against blind trust. “Show me the fruit,” he demanded. “We’ll know soon enough whose team he’s on.”
Some see hope in Leo’s Augustinian background—the same order that founded his alma mater Villanova University. Their motto? “Truth, unity, love.” Traditionalists pray he’ll champion these ideals instead of chasing trendy social justice causes. For now, all anyone can do is wait…and watch.
The church stands at a crossroads. With a controversial new pope and fierce debates over its future, conservatives like Strickland are drawing lines in the sand. “Truth doesn’t change,” he declared. “Either Leo leads us back to it—or the faithful will have to fight without him.”
