King David sang in Psalm 146: “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. 

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing 

Thursday, November 7, 2024, Rome — I write this after midnight, early on November 7, just hours after learning Donald Trump was on November 5 elected president of the United States. 

My first emotion was relief. This relief stemmed in part from my sense that Harris had been more of a “war candidate” than Trump. I believed this, in part, because men like Robert Kennedy, Jr. who threw his support to Trump on August 24 — had said “if you vote for Kamala Harris, you are not electing her, you are electing the apparatus around her, and that apparatus is filled with censorship-enabling neocons who are running the country into World War 3.” 

Yet, my second emotion was… deep concern… deep concern because I doubted Trump would be able, really, to prevent the coming of World War 3 — a war which Pope Francis has been telling us for years has “already started, in pieces.” 

Despite Trump’s best intentions, the situation is grave. The US is $35 trillion in debt. The annual interest on this debt is now matching our annual military expenditures(!), and growing. Many problems which could have been faced 20 years or 30 years ago are now beyond our control, or nearly so. This is due to our own choices, thousands, millions of them — lazy, selfish, short-sighted choices. 

So, it seemed to me unlikely that Trump would be able to carry out what so many hope he will be able to carry out — the renewal of freedom, prosperity, dignity, “greatness” in America. 

As Cardinal Robert Sarah, now 79, says in his brilliant, profoundly spiritual book The Day Is Now Far Spent (published more than five years ago, on March 20, 2019), “the decadence of our time has all the faces of mortal peril.” 

A cultural identity crisis, he says, is at the root of the problems facing Western societies. “The West no longer knows who it is, because it no longer knows and does not want to know who made it, who established it, as it was and as it is. Many countries today ignore their own history. This self-suffocation naturally leads to a decadence that opens the path to new, barbaric civilizations.” 

Strong words. And Sarah is not even addressing the fiscal and environmental problems we face… 

With regard to the question of World War 3, one of the very first people to send congratulations to Trump was Ukraine’s acting president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Tragically, Ukraine has suffered horribly during the war with Russia, which began on February 24, 2022, now almost three years ago. Millions have fled the country, perhaps never to return. Tens of thousands of young men, more likely hundreds of thousands, have died. Zelenskyy wrote: 

I recall our great meeting back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine. I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the “peace through strength” approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together. We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump’s decisive leadership. We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States.(…) 

Zelenskyy hopes he, and Ukraine, will receive more help from Trump. Yet, many observers believe Trump will not give Zelenskyy more aid. Rather, many think, Trump will seek to make a “peace deal” with the Russians. Trump has said this is what he will do. 

Trump on November 6, yesterday, said: “I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president, and your 45th president.” Speaking in West Palm Beach, Florida, he made no mention of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Yet… he stressed that the US saw “no wars” during his first presidential term (January 2017-January 2021). “We had no wars, for four years, we had no wars.” Trump went on: “They said: ‘He will start a war.’ I’m not going to start a war, I’m going to stop the wars.” So, Trump’s intent is to stop wars… 

But this too is cause for concern, for Trump is assuming (it seems) that the US can dictate to Russia what it does in Ukraine. Reality check: it cannot. The US tried economic power: own goal. It tried military power: fail. Admittedly, it’s winning the propaganda war… in the West. But the West is not what it used to be. The US is an empire in decline. All Trump can do at best is stabilize the US, set it up for rebuilding, but Empire? Likely a lost cause. 

So I remain deeply concerned about this war in Ukraine, about whether it can be contained, and how it may end, and under what terms. And in this uncertainty, I pray for our children… 

Then Trump got another congratulatory message: “Dear Donald and Melania Trump, Congratulations on history’s greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! In true friendship, Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu.” 

So now, another front looms: in the Middle East. Iran’s leaders are exchanging missiles with Israel. Trump may be a great deal-maker, but a peace deal between Israel, the Palestinians and Iran? 

In closing, as in my last editorial, my thoughts turn to the Holy Land, and, again, to the great saint, St. Charbel Makhlouf (May 8, 1828 to December 24, 1898). A Maronite monk and priest in Leb anon, he spent his last 23 years living as a solitary hermit and was canonized by the Catholic Church in 1977. He is known among Lebanese Christians for his miraculous healings, and for his ability to unite Christians and Muslims. He is the Patron Saint of Lebanon. 

Here are words of wisdom attributed to St. Charbel: “Do not sell your souls in the markets of this world. Your souls are very valuable. Whatever price the world may pay you, it is too low a price compared to your souls’ true value. The kingdom of God is not a goal but a journey that you can realize in yourself by the power of the Holy Spirit. Step by step, day-by-day, in the small details that fill the moments of your life, second after second… Begin nothing on earth unless it has its end in heaven; do not walk on a path that does not lead to heaven. The ignorant man clings to the dust until he becomes dust; the wise and prudent man clings to heaven until he reaches heaven. You cannot lift people higher than yourself, but if Christ is in you, you can go up and draw them to you. When you climb high, pull your brothers towards you.” 

At Christmas, let us pray for peace, the peace of Christ. 

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