John Grosso

RT @NYCMayor: .@NYCSanitation I'd like to report a sweep

Me! Stay tuned…

"THEEE YANKEES WIN" A tribute to John Sterling on the broadcast and the jumbotron after the final out of the game

Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth. #ApostolicJourney #Cameroon vatican.va/content/leo-xi…

Pope Leo in Bamenda: “Woe to those who bend religions and the very name of God to their own military, economic, and political objectives, dragging what is holy into what is most filthy and dark. Yes, dear brothers and sisters, you who hunger and thirst for justice, you poor, merciful, meek, and pure of heart, you who have wept are the light of the world! Bamenda, you today are the city on the hill, splendid in the eyes of all!"

Same people who brought one of the endless iterations of “New York’s hottest club is this fashy Catholic Church” now trying to tell you the Pope is a hick from flyover country who talks too much.

Pope Leo XIV told reporters en route to Algeria that he has "no fear of the Trump administration," hours after President Donald Trump lodged a vicious attack at the pontiff on social media. From the papal plane for @NCRonline ncronline.org/pope-leo-says-…

Pope Leo aboard flight to Algeria: “I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the Church is here to do. We are not politicians. We don’t deal with foreign policy with the same perspective he might understand it, but I do believe in the message of the Gospel, as a peacemaker.”

Pope Leo told Reuters on Monday that ‌he plans to continue speaking out against war after U.S. President Donald Trump's direct attack on ​the leader of the 1.4-billion-member Church. For @Reuters reuters.com/world/pope-say…

Trump attacks Pope Leo in incendiary social media post ncronline.org/node/328346 via @NCRonline

I doubt Pope Leo XIV will lose any sleep over this, before he begins his pilgrimage to Africa tomorrow. But the rest of us should. Because it is unhinged, uncharitable and unchristian. Is there no bottom to this moral squalor?

Hell of a time to be on paternity leave.

My take on the Hegseth-Pierre "controversy." First of all, who knows? So far, it's not an especially "well-sourced" story. Now, I have little doubt that some officials could have spoken bluntly, even rudely, to Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the former Vatican ambassador to the US, given the language that has come out of this administration and its response to Pope Leo XIV's repeated calls for peace. Did someone at the meeting mention, of all things, the Avignonese papacy? Who knows? It sounds like something that someone with a grudge against the church wished had been said to Cardinal Pierre. But I highly doubt that Cardinal Pierre, a smart man, a kind priest, and, above all, a consummate diplomat, will ever say anything about what was said on the record. Nor will the Holy See or the current nuncio. For good measure, having known a few Vatican ambassadors, or "nuncios," most would have just nodded, smiled politely and said, "Thank you very much. I will convey your concerns to the Holy Father." And remember: Vatican diplomats have been dealing with world leaders since at least the time of Charlemagne. Many in the diplomatic corps today have been posted to any number of countries and have dealt with officials from around the world. They're used to all sorts of rude comments and even veiled threats. So, given that we will probably never know what really happened, why not move on to more pressing matters: that is, Pope Leo's repeated calls for peace and reconciliation.

Catholics left and right blast Trump's threat to end Iran ncronline.org/node/327946 via @NCRonline by @BrianFragaNCR

Pope Leo: Injustices, partisan selfishness, oppression of the poor, ignoring the vulnerable, idolatry of profit, violence of war prove darkness is always lurking. But the Passover of the Lord invites us to open our hearts, make room for new life. The Lord is alive & is with us.

A profound meditation on an often passed over day from @JamesMartinSJ. Nicole and I await the birth of our second daughter - this Easter Monday. This is the most acute experience of Holy Saturday we’ve ever experienced and it’s certainly a time full of spiritual lessons!

1st station: "Every person in authority will have to answer to God for the way they exercise their power." Jesus says, "whatever you do to another human being, especially to the small & vulnerable, you do unto me. And it is to me that you will one day give an account."

We see our home planet as a whole, lit up in spectacular blues and browns. A green aurora even lights up the atmosphere. That's us, together, watching as our astronauts make their journey to the Moon.

The cross is part of the mission. The imperialist occupation of the world is disrupted from within; the violence that until now has been the law is unmasked. The poor, imprisoned, and rejected Messiah descends into the darkness of death, yet in so doing He brings a new creation to light. #HolyThursday

Asking God, in a public prayer, to help a political leader make wise decisions, care for the poor, seek peace, foster harmony, and try to include all those who feel excluded? Yes. Comparing a political leader, in a public prayer, to the sinless Son of God during Holy Week? No.