Six Months of Leo XIV & the road ahead?

(summary: a short summary of what has been, and what we can expect in 2025-26 from the papacy of Leo XIV)

Following Prevost’s election as Pope Leo XIV after Francis’s death, my earlier blogs (click here & here) outlined his likely direction. I had also posted 5 of the main reasons why I was convinced that Prevost was Francis 2.0 (click here)

The most important aspect that has become abundantly clear to me in the last six months since his being ‘elected’ Pope, is that Prevost is Francis’ (Bergoglio) boy through and through – very likely hand picked and groomed by Bergoglio based on perhaps recommendations from Cardinal Blaise Cupich & a few others in the USCCB.

With the above lens, we can rule out the following:

1. Doctrinal correction of encyclicals like Fiducia Supplicans & Amoris Laetitia – Prevost is likely to only build on these documents, if anything.
2. The TLM (1962 Missal) – in short, forget about a permanent allowance to the Traditional Latin Mass, which will be limited to special permissions from Rome for a one-off Mass. That too, if Trads have been well behaved & have sufficiently ‘zipped-it’!
3. Prevost revoking the cancellation of priests and Bishops by Bergoglio. It is now amply clear that there will be no olive branch extended to Abp. Vigano, Bp. Strickland and Fr. Altman (as examples).
4. Any action against the lavender mafia – This was a pipe dream on my part. It really was. With the James Martin SJ meeting, the LGBTQ+ Jubilee Mass, and other such spectacles in the Vatican, Prevost has made it amply clear that the LGBTQ+ posturing is a priority to him. And in this debacle, Catholicism is doomed unless providence decides to intervene – it is now down to what faithful Catholics have to ‘endure’ (Revelation 14:12).
5. If Mater Populi fidelis is a yardstick, there will be absolutely no further consecration of Russia; if you ask me my opinion, it is already too late in the day for the correct consecration of Russia. The errors of Russia that the Co-Redemptrix warned about have already spread to the rest of the world, & what may come next is the annihilation of nations. This is on Rome and on us. Again – barring divine intervention, I see no way out here.

Into the second trimester of his papacy, I relook at the course that Prevost (Leo) seems to be adopting & what are some of the things that Trads / Catholics can expect over the course of the next year.

Things to look out for in 2025-26

1. After declaring Cardinal Newman a Doctor of the Church, Leo-Fernandez and associates may promote heterodox ideas disguised as doctrinal development, potentially advancing further canonizations of theologians supporting such development, such as Francisco Suárez, S.J.
2. Watch for canonization moves involving modernists like Teilhard de Chardin (read more here), Henri de Lubac, and Hans Urs von Balthasar. De Lubac’s cause was opened by French bishops in 2023. Another name to watch for in context with canonization is that of Pope Benedict XVI (Cardinal Ratzinger – one of the stars of Vatican II) – given the trend in the post conciliar Church, it is now normal to bestow sainthood on all Vatican II Popes. Moreover, canonizing Benedict will be the logical step to ensure the canonization of ‘the Pope of the peripheries’ – Bergoglio, the merciful – which is what the intention will actually be more towards. Expect some moves on the latter’s birthday this 17th of December (Incidentally this was the day that the DDF & Tucho released Fiducia Supplicans in 2023).
3. Expect Marian doctrines and apparitions to be downplayed. The DDF’s 2024 “Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena” now centralize approval under Rome, not local bishops—making new recognitions unlikely, especially with Leo-Fernandez rejecting titles like Co-Redemptrix or Mediatrix, barring a Fatima-scale miracle.
4. A few commentators have suggested a Vatican clampdown on Traditionalist social media influencers, possibly via an approved or blacklisted list—akin to a modern Index Librorum Prohibitorum or virtual imprimatur. Critics of Vatican II or the Pope may face scrutiny, though implementation details remain unclear.
5. Expect Vatican interest in American politics ahead of the 2028 elections, likely favoring a shift from MAGA/Trump-Vance leadership to restore the USAID–Catholic Charity funding pipeline and support pro-immigration policies. The Vatican-China deal is also expected to remain in place.
6. The 2028 elections align closely with the UN’s Agenda 2030. Expect Vatican collaboration with the UN, WEF, Gates, and Soros foundations, advancing policies and encyclicals increasingly aligned with secular, humanistic agendas -blurring Church–world boundaries and distancing from traditional Christian values.
7. Synodality and collegiality may see moves by Leo and allies to make Synodal decisions irreversible, as noted by some commentators such as Dr. Anthony Stine-this may see some development closer to 2028.
8. A few notable dates to watch out for:
   1. 17th December 2025 (Bergoglio’s birthday): we can either expect some goodwill gesture to the LGBTQ+ on the day, with some more shameless & emboldened photo-optics by James Martin SJ, or some more “opening of the windows”, or doors, or some more bridges built by Leo-Fernandez-Martin SJ & co.
   2. On Jan 1, 2026 (Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God), watch for DDF or Tucho documents – possible focussed on Marian doctrine revisions, though a title such as Theotokos will likely remains untouched for ecumenical reasons with the Eastern Orthodox.
   3. 04th February 2026 (International day of Human Fraternity): If Freemasons are within the walls of the Vatican, a situation that is highly likely given the circumstances (read more here), expect more emphasis on previous ‘initiatives’ such as the Abu Dhabi declaration (“A Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together”), which will enter it’s seventh year since 2019, on 04th February. Also, expect Leo to continue to build on this initiative.
   4. 08th May 2026 (Pope Leo XIV’s 1st anniversary): the sky is the limit when it comes to scope for creativity & novelty here. Expect all of the above and even more.

As I write this, the news reported by Dr. Anthony Stine (covering the work of InfoVaticana) was of a priest from Peru from the former diocese of Bishop/Cardinal Prevost – by the popular name of ‘Lute’ (Fr Eleuterio Vásquez González. See here) who was credibly accused of abuse, with Prevost being accused for neglecting to take the case to its logical end. Stephen Kokx has also done a recent interview with a Msgr. Ricardo on this subject.

(Dr. Anthony Stine’s Return to Tradition YouTube video)

(Stephen Kokx’s YouTube video interview with Msgr. Ricardo)

While it may be interesting to see how this story develops, I expect a dead-end on the Lute case and I will be very surprised if any credible secular or Catholic news organization(s) pick up on this developing story and ask serious questions that should be asked.

With the document Mater Populi fidelis by Tucho-Leo, it is now abundantly clear that the modernists in Rome are only interested in ecumenical zeal with Protestants (who have a completely hostile view towards Mary). For our part, it is time to perhaps pursue the first Saturday devotion recommended by Our Lady – in this perhaps now lies our only recourse for this latest offense against Her.

Our Lady, Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix of all grace, and Mother of Perpetual help, pray for us & those who have forsaken thee.

Ave Maria