What The Pope Is Doing

"There's been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects, but because of the political situation created when, on the first day of the trip, the president of the United States made some comments about myself," Leo said.

"Much of what has been written since then has been more commentary on commentary, trying to interpret what has been said."

I wouldn’t say the Pope is defending his remarks. He’s removing the context Trump falsely created for them. 

Leo emphasized the remarks predated Trump's attacks. "My remarks were written two weeks ago, long before Trump's criticisms began," he explained, undercutting Trump's narrative that the Pope was specifically targeting him.

"And yet as it happens, it was looked at as if I was trying to debate again the president, which is not in my interest at all," Leo said, making clear he views the controversy as a distraction.

Looking forward, the Pope signaled his priorities lie elsewhere. "I primarily come to Africa as a pastor, as the head of the Catholic Church to be with, to celebrate with, to encourage and accompany all the Catholics throughout Africa."

Politicians and public figures are free to ignore the Pope. And for all the criticism of the media you find on the Intertoobs, this is the one you seldom see: the political press seeing everything in terms of racehorse politics. Pope Leo didn’t offer comments on what Trump said; he’s responding to the press here. The “certain narrative that has not been accurate in all of its aspects.” Because what the Pope has said that has gotten so much attention is what Xianity calls the prophetic. Not prophetic in the Nostradamus sense, but in the sense some call “speaking truth to power.” Like Jeremiah did:

Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness, his upper rooms by injustice, making his own people work for nothing, not paying them for their labor.

14 He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace with spacious upper rooms.’ So he makes large windows in it, panels it with cedar and decorates it in red.

15 “Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him.

16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 22:13-16

Pope Leo is prophesying like that. If you take it as political, well, maybe it is. If you take it as aimed at you; then, maybe it is. But consider it’s something else, entirely.