Hi Ann,
That Kayfabe was straight out of the WWE- a WrestleMania V script. But for what purpose?
I had very little interest in following the back and forth between the Vatican and the Whitehouse over the last month, and the Trump v Prevost fight just seemed very odd…until that picture Trump posted of himself as a Christ figure. Watching the “Impromptu” press interview where the Uber driver dropped off Trumps Big Mac Lunch at the oval office made me think, …Kayfabe. But not Kayfabe for the promotion of Trump, who has undergone a change to “Heel” and is now the villain, but for Leo/Prevost’s benefit.
Yes, it’s election year and the US Bishops and the Vatican State want the money turned back on. Axelrod visited the Vatican likely to work out the coordination details to turn on the money to the NGO’s. But I don’t think that was the main reason why Prevost and Trump fought.
My assessment is that after the release of the book showing Prevost worshiping the demon idol in the garden, he needed a redo of his image. Leo needs to strengthen his image as the “Defender of the Faith(s)” ahead of the consistory in June. The Hero is only as great as the Villain he fights, hence the need to fight a “Supervillain,” ie Trump 2.0.
Pope Leo was pitched as the American Pope who could build bridges between the left right, South America and the US , and the Old Church and the new Synodal Church etc. It’s hard to sell that image if there are photos and a book published with Leo/Prevost worshiping a demon. But, if Leo stands up to Trump, the new Boss Villain that everyone loves to hate, and his beta, JD Vance, then Leo could regain the (fake) armour of “Defender of the faith(s)” prior to the consistory.
That Kayfabe between Trump and Prevost is unnecessary for the 2026 mid-term election. Big extravagant Kayfabe stories are used for the build up to tournaments (ie WrestleMania V) and the main matches on pay for view. Not side shows like the mid-terms. Kayfabe is used to set up a narrative between the “Hero” and the “Villain” for a big showdown, OR in order to rehabilitate an important character if their character wasn’t being accepted by the audience.
My assessment is that they are getting ready to add more prayers to the existing four Novus Ordo Eucharistic Prayers. I think they are preparing to use the drop in the number of priests to claim that the crisis requires that Special Eucharistic Ministers to be allowed to preform some of the sacraments. It would logically follow that (about) three more Eucharistic prayers be added.
Prayer 5, in Latin, for those that like the Latin mass and want the priest facing Ad Orientem.
Prayer 6, for Special Eucharistic Ministers, without the words of consecration (possible using already consecrated hosts).
Prayer 7 for “Priests ordained in other Churches” i.e. Anglican Bishops and Priests (so that would eventually including female Priests).
In order to have the faithful accept the changes, Prevost must be liked and accepted as the defender of the Faith(s).
Just my assessment of where this is going.
Mr. M
KAYFABE: kayfabe /ˈkeɪfeɪb/ is the portrayal of staged events within the industry as “real” or “true,” specifically the portrayal of competition, rivalries, and relationships between participants as being genuine and not of a staged or pre-determined nature of any kind. Kayfabe has also evolved to become a code word of sorts for maintaining this “reality” within the direct or indirect presence of the general public.