Random Thought 1: My brothers and sisters in Christ, be very careful of things in the social media world; many are writing things about what Pope Leo XIV is saying that are complete lies. Many of these statements are made with AI and are not in the least associated with our Pope. If this is what we will have to contend with AI the world will be a very dangerous place. AI can perfectly replicate voices and actions, voice inflections of others without their knowledge or permission. This seems diabolical to me. Get your information from Catholic websites, from people you can trust for the Truth. Let us pray for him and allow him to establish his mission and ministry on his own. So far he seems to be the unifier we needed. Praise be God!

Random Thought 2: As I followed the watching for the white smoke on different streaming stations and the eventual choosing of Pope, Leo XIV the correspondents referred occasionally to the effect on the Church, using the list of bishops, priests, religious, and laity. Never a mention of Deacons, even EWTN, a good Catholic network used the same list. No, I’m not jealous, I am defending, the Order of Deacons. The first order of the sacrament of Holy Orders. Every Pope, Cardinal,  bishop and priest first receives the order of Deacon and then goes on to the higher orders. The permanent diaconate was suppressed during the era of many priestly vocations, but there was always an order of transitional deacons for those going on to the presbyterate (priesthood). 

        The permanent diaconate was allowed again by the Fathers of Vatican II Council, because they felt there was a need for it. In my 36 years as a deacon in the Church, I can assure you that the servant deacon was fully useful to my Archbishop, my pastors, and many hundreds of Catholic Laity. I have done hundreds of baptisms, witnessed many marriages, gave many homilies, ministered to the sick and dying in the local hospitals, and 18 years of prison ministry at the County Jail, brought many people into the faith through the RCIA, baptism preparation, marriage preparation, as well as many annulments when necessary. In all these ministries I preached Jesus Christ as the center of our lives. So in spite of the humility I must have I ask to at least mention Deacons as part of the clergy. Mostly married men who have dedicated their live to the Church and its founder.