On May 8, in the Year of Our Lord 2025, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV. Not being Catholic, my interest in this event stems from an appreciation for history and tradition. As the Bishop of Rome, Leo is tasked with shepherding the 1.4 billion Catholics throughout the world, which will have a tremendous impact on the social and foreign policies of many nations.
Plus, I think it’s pretty neat that he was born in America.
For a long time, the papacy was an essentially Italian institution. From the death of the Dutch-born Pope Adrian VI in 1523 to the election of the Polish-born Pope John Paul II in 1978, the office was exclusively held by Italians. Subsequent popes have come from Germany, Argentina, and now the United States of America, demonstrating how global the Roman Catholic Church has become. Remember that our nation, which celebrates its 250th anniversary next year, is still fairly young in the annals of history. (On the other hand, our system of government is older than those of Italy, Germany, and France, despite their long histories as distinct peoples.)
As you know, the Gem State Chronicle is reader supported:
- Paid subscribers via Substack get bonus notes with some articles, giving me an opportunity to share behind-the-scenes thoughts with supporters, as well as early access to podcasts and significant discounts in the merch store.
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This week at the Chronicle…
On Monday, I looked at the various tax breaks and subsidies that Micron enjoys, and asked if the company deserves such taxpayer largesse.
On Tuesday, I previewed the Boise City Council meeting in which the LGBTQ+ pride flag was set to become a permanent official flag of the city.
On Wednesday, I recapped what happened at that council meeting and looked ahead to what comes next in this culture war flashpoint.
On Thursday, I took a moment to appreciate our time in history and the potential greatness before us.
On Friday, I reported that the Central District Board of Health voted to continue providing the COVID shot at its offices.
I also published several guest opinion pieces:
- Sen. Jim Risch on President Trump’s economic plan
- Idaho GOP chairwoman Dorothy Moon on Hispanic outreach
- Attorney General Raúl Labrador on fighting California’s tyranny
- Congressman Mike Simpson on his work in Congress
If you would like Gem State Chronicle to publish your work, please submit it to [email protected]. We are pleased to provide an outlet for a wide variety of figures in the world of Idaho politics to share their own messages.
In other news…
Attorney General Labrador joined Melissa Davlin on Idaho Reports to share his takes on the news of the day:
Idaho Freedom Foundation’s Bryan Hyde explained why the conflict over flags on government property matters:
Auron MacIntyre shared a timely reminder of the foreign policy of George Washington:
The Daily Wire’s Michael Knowles shared his perspective on Pope Leo XIV as a conservative Catholic:
Speaking of the pope, here’s an interesting video explaining the history of every previous pope named Leo:
Upcoming events…
Rep. Josh Tanner is hosting a golf tournament next month. Click here for details.
Nampa’s Parade America is next weekend. Click here for details.
Thank you all for your support as I continue to bring you news and analysis that empowers you to make positive change in Idaho. Make sure to subscribe, follow me on Twitter, and follow the Chronicle on Facebook, Telegram, YouTube, and Rumble. Have a great weekend!
About Brian Almon
Brian Almon is the Editor of the Gem State Chronicle. He also serves as Chairman of the District 14 Republican Party and is a trustee of the Eagle Public Library Board. He lives with his wife and five children in Eagle.
