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babylonsister

(172,767 posts)
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 07:28 AM Yesterday

The Pope and the Dope

Found on FB~

Michael Jochum
is in Arvada, CO.


The Pope and the Dope

When a man like Donald Trump starts taking swings at the Pope, it’s not politics, it’s pathology. It’s the sound of a hollow ego rattling around inside a gold-plated echo chamber, desperate for applause it can no longer command, so it settles for outrage instead. Because outrage, for Trump, is currency. It’s oxygen. It’s the only thing keeping the bloated carcass of his relevance upright.
This is what it’s come to. Not policy. Not leadership. Not even the cheap theater he usually peddles. Now it’s spiritual drive-by shootings, lashing out at a man of faith because he dares to represent something Trump has never understood and never will: humility, compassion, and a moral center that isn’t for sale to the highest bidder.

Trump doesn’t attack strength. He attacks decency.
Always has. Because decency exposes him. It stands there, quiet and unshaken, and by its mere existence reveals him for what he is: a petulant, grievance-soaked narcissist who confuses cruelty with power and noise with authority.

Pope Leo, whether you’re Catholic or not, isn’t playing that game. He doesn’t need to. Men like him navigate storms with steadiness, not tantrums. With conviction, not cheap insults. He doesn’t have to scream to be heard, and that alone is something Trump cannot comprehend.

I’m not Catholic either. But I recognize courage when I see it. I recognize sincerity. And right now, in a world being dragged through the mud by ego and ignorance, the presence of someone grounded in truth and moral clarity isn’t just refreshing, it’s necessary.

Trump can keep barking at the heavens all he wants. It won’t make him taller. It won’t make him wiser. And it sure as hell won’t make him relevant in any way that history will remember kindly.

—Michael Jochum
Not Just a Drummer: Reflections on Art, Politics, Dogs, and the Human Condition
16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Pope and the Dope (Original Post) babylonsister Yesterday OP
Trump must destroy any thing good, decent, respected, admired. Irish_Dem Yesterday #1
"Trump doesn't attack strength. He attacks decency." sop Yesterday #2
;-{) FEARLESS Goonch 23 hrs ago #3
Very thoughtful and on point characterization of Trump's ego vs the Pope's humanity. Fla Dem 23 hrs ago #4
"...humility, compassion, and a moral center that isn't for sale to the highest bidder." JohnnyRingo 23 hrs ago #5
I recognize courage too Wild blueberry 23 hrs ago #6
Reminds me of the Great Karnak ... Auggie 23 hrs ago #7
Pope did a rope a dope. BattleRow 4 hrs ago #15
Best thing I've read about the Pope and the Dope Martin Eden 23 hrs ago #8
trump's religion is GREED Mr.Bee 22 hrs ago #9
Pope and the dope. Good word combo. wnylib 22 hrs ago #10
Charlie Daniels kentuck 22 hrs ago #11
This message was self-deleted by its author bmichaelh 11 hrs ago #12
Who remembers Sinead O'Connor ? MW67 11 hrs ago #13
Sinead O'Connor died. Silver Gaia 5 hrs ago #14
100% that! oasis 3 hrs ago #16

Irish_Dem

(81,695 posts)
1. Trump must destroy any thing good, decent, respected, admired.
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 07:32 AM
Yesterday

He cannot stand anyone else getting attention or accolades.
He cannot stand people loving or emotionally attached to ideas, people, objects.

One reason he is destroying the White House, the Pope, etc.

JohnnyRingo

(20,915 posts)
5. "...humility, compassion, and a moral center that isn't for sale to the highest bidder."
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 09:35 AM
23 hrs ago

That line stood out as a good summation.

Auggie

(33,209 posts)
7. Reminds me of the Great Karnak ...
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 09:58 AM
23 hrs ago

“Lifebouy, Leo I, Donald Trump …

Name a soap, a pope, and a dope.”

Johnny Carson, from many moons ago. I changed it a little.

Response to babylonsister (Original post)

MW67

(196 posts)
13. Who remembers Sinead O'Connor ?
Tue Apr 14, 2026, 09:42 PM
11 hrs ago

For those who do, enough said, career changing decision to go there the wrong way, also there's gotta be good joke material in there as well , maybe Maga's theme song should be " Nothing Compares to You" , or something like , What do trump and Sinead O'Connor share in common? Idk, both of their careers are over and nobody wants to hear them anymore?

Silver Gaia

(5,366 posts)
14. Sinead O'Connor died.
Wed Apr 15, 2026, 03:52 AM
5 hrs ago

I don't get it. Sorry. I know she was controversial, but... why are we comparing her to Trump?

She sang the theme song (The Skye Boat Song) to Outlander for the 7th season, and it was etherically beautiful. It was one of the last things she did before she died, and I won't forget the chills it gave me. It was the best version of that theme song ever.

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