Over the past weeks, Pope Leo has become the target of an increasingly aggressive and coordinated wave of attacks from the American Catholic right, closely aligned with the MAGA political movement. The tone of these assaults is hostile, mocking, and often deliberately misleading. What is perhaps most surprising is not the criticism itself—popes throughout history have faced opposition—but the deafening silence surrounding this in Italy. While American conservative media outlets and their networks on social platforms wage a relentless campaign against the Holy Father, Italian outlets barely mention it.
This silence matters. It allows a distorted narrative to dominate the international stage, where the Pope is painted not as the shepherd of the universal Church but as some sort of "woke activist" pandering to progressives and environmentalists. In reality, what is happening is something far more serious: a deliberate attempt to weaken papal authority by framing Pope Leo as an enemy of "true" Catholicism.
A Photo Taken Out of Context
A clear example of this strategy can be seen in a recent controversy surrounding a centuries-old Italian tradition. On social media, critics circulated a photograph of Pope Leo blessing a horse at the Palio di Siena.(actually a parish priest from Siena and not the Pope )For Italians, the image is unremarkable: since the 1200s, animals—especially horses—have been blessed before races, processions, and feasts. It is part of a deeply rooted Catholic heritage, closely tied to the Feast of Saint Anthony Abbot, patron saint of animals.
Yet American critics, ignoring or dismissing this history, turned the image into a weapon. They captioned it with derisive comments such as "Leo is pandering to the leftist neo-pagan environmentalists" or "Blessing ice? Wait till you hear about the pet blessings this weekend."
This is not ignorance—it is strategy. The attackers know that many of their followers have little knowledge of Catholic tradition outside the United States. By presenting a sacred rite as something bizarre, new, or politically motivated, they undermine the Pope's credibility and portray him as a leader who has lost touch with "real Catholicism."
The Pattern of Orchestrated Hostility
The mockery of the horse blessing is not an isolated incident. It fits a broader pattern. Pope Leo has spoken out courageously on issues that cut against the grain of MAGA ideology: the dignity of migrants, the sinfulness of racism, the urgency of climate change, and the need for consistent defense of life in all its forms, not just in the womb but also at the border, in prisons, and in the natural world.
These teachings are not "left-wing innovations." They are deeply rooted in Catholic social doctrine and the Gospel itself. But in the hyper-polarized political environment of the United States, the MAGA-aligned Catholic right interprets them as political provocations. In their eyes, the Pope is not a pastor but a political enemy.
The result is a steady stream of blog posts, videos, and social media campaigns designed to caricature Pope Leo as a "globalist," a "climate alarmist," or even a "neo-pagan." Some commentators have gone so far as to suggest that he is betraying Catholic teaching to gain favor with secular elites. These accusations have little grounding in reality, but they are repeated so often that they begin to take hold in certain circles.
Few Defenders, Many Detractors
There are, of course, priests, theologians, and Catholic voices in the United States who defend Pope Leo. They remind the faithful that obedience to the Pope is not optional, that Catholic tradition embraces both care for creation and compassion for the marginalized, and that unity should be prioritized over partisan battles. Yet these defenders are relatively few, and their voices are often drowned out by the noise of the opposition.
Meanwhile, conservative media outlets amplify every criticism, ensuring that the anti-papal narrative spreads far beyond strictly Catholic circles. In effect, the Pope has become a political football in America's culture wars—a role he never sought and one that obscures his spiritual mission.
The Italian Silence
What makes this situation even more troubling is the lack of attention it has received in Italy. According to monitoring of English-language media, there are over 800 articles in the American press analyzing and, in many cases, defending Pope Leo against these attacks. And yet, in Italy, where the Pope is not only the leader of the universal Church but also the Bishop of Rome, the topic is largely absent from public discourse.
Why this silence? Part of the explanation may be media fatigue: Italians are accustomed to papal controversies and may not perceive the American drama as newsworthy. Another factor is the Italian media's focus on domestic politics and economic issues, which leaves little room for what may seem like "foreign quarrels." But the effect is the same: Italians are left unaware of the scale and coordination of the attacks their Pope is facing.
Why It Matters
Some may ask: why should Italians care about what American conservatives say about the Pope? The answer is simple: because the Catholic Church is universal, and attacks on the Pope in one country weaken his authority everywhere. The American Catholic Church is large, wealthy, and influential. Its internal battles often ripple outward, affecting the global Church.
If the narrative that Pope Leo is a "woke progressive" gains traction unchecked, it will not remain confined to the United States. It will seep into the wider Catholic imagination, creating division, suspicion, and resistance to the Pope's teaching. In an age of digital media, misinformation spreads rapidly across borders. Silence from Italy only makes it easier for this distorted picture to become dominant.
A Call to Speak Up
What is needed now is clarity and courage. Italian Catholic voices—journalists, theologians, bishops, and laypeople—should not allow American extremists to monopolize the conversation about the Pope. They should explain the cultural and liturgical context of traditions like the blessing of animals. They should highlight the consistency of Pope Leo's teaching with Catholic social doctrine. And above all, they should remind the faithful that unity with the Pope is not a matter of political convenience but of Catholic identity.
History teaches us that popes have often faced opposition. From medieval conflicts with emperors to modern ideological battles, the papacy has always been a lightning rod for controversy. But what is happening now is different: a coordinated, digitally amplified campaign designed not just to question a particular decision but to delegitimize the Pope himself.
That is why the silence in Italy is so dangerous. If the country that hosts the papacy will not defend it, who will?
Pope Leo does not need flattery or blind loyalty. What he needs—and what the Church needs—is a fair hearing, a willingness to listen to his teaching in its fullness, and a refusal to allow partisan narratives to distort the Gospel message.
The attacks will continue. But whether they succeed in weakening the Pope's authority depends in part on whether Catholics—especially in Italy—are willing to break their silence.
Marco Baratto
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