Leo Chronicles Succeeds Francis

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1. Eric

   It would have been so much more fun if Father Bob had chosen the name “Pope Deudeldit III” (yes, there were two in the 7th century) or Sixtus VI, just to annoy the media.

   1. Mario500

      (question: why suggest such a mean and unholy idea (note: “Deusdedit”: “Latin name meaning ‘God has given’. This was the name of two popes (who are also known by the related name Adeodatus). This is a Latin translation of Theodore.” – https://www.behindthename.com/name/deusdedit))

      1. Eric

         Because it’s the silliest-sounding name of any pope in history. It’s also endearing, that’s why. There were two popes named Theodore, and one of them managed to clean up a century’s worth of scandal before dropping dead in only 18 days.

         Silly can be good, sometimes, and aren’t most comic strips supposed to be silly?

2. Lorenzo

   Based on our very brief experience of him, he doesn’t seem the type to pick a name (or do anything else) to annoy people. That might have contributed to his image in the Vatican as “the least American of the American cardinals.”

   I have the impression that he picked Leo as a nod of respect to Leo XIII, who addressed a pastoral letter to American Catholics, and who thought deeply and charitably about working people.

3. Lorenzo

   Cartoon caricaturing doesn’t come up to the level of royal portraiture, but I was always happily surprised at how Patrick Marrin captured the essentials of Pope Francis in an affectionate and respectful way, even with crutches or in a wheelchair. I expected the same with Pope Leo, so it’s not surprising that I see the same kind touch now.

   When Pope Leo was first presented a couple weeks ago, I found myself saying, “I never realized they looked so much alike.” All I could discern were a slightly different hairline under the zucchetto and glasses of a different shape. I didn’t realize that the artist was in the process of making the transition, getting comfortable with a new head and facial outline, pink in the cheeks in a slightly different place, etc.

   We are now watching Pope Leo come into his own as the main focus of the strip. Pat is intuiting his way into making him come alive for us. Brother Leo and Gabby remain themselves, and that is very good. (Thank you both for accepting the invitation, by the way.)

   Pope Leo is “becoming himself” in front of our eyes, and that is very good, too.