May 9, 2025 • 5 mins
Monsignor Joseph Grimaldi talks with Mendte in the Morning about the new Pope Leo XIV, him being an American, and what direction he may take the Catholic church.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now let's get to Monsignor Joseph Grimaldi. He is Vicar
General of the Diocese of Brooklyn, which includes parts of
Queen's Monsignor, thanks for taking the time to talk to
us today.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Good morning, great to be on.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Good morning. Tell us. Tell us about Pope Lewis the
Leo the fourteenth.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Look Leo the fourteenth, Yes, previously Cardinal Robert Prevost. As
we all know, we're very proud as Americans that he's
American born and educated. He is a great man who
brings a great diversity of experience with him being an
American and serving for a number of years here is
(00:41):
an Augustinian in the US and then going to the
missions over in Peru serving there is both a pastor
and then as a bishop, true missionary spirit and serving
the poor. And I think that's a big part of
his persona, you might say, is his his sensitivity to
(01:04):
the needs of the poor and the marginalized. And as
he said so beautifully yesterday, uh, you know, the arms
of the church must be open like the colonnade around
Saint Peter's Square to all, to welcome all, and continuing
that same spirit in many ways like Saint Pope Francis,
having that openness, having that willingness to dialogue. Pope Leo said,
(01:30):
it's so important to listen that concept of you know,
sinideality and in the inclusion of laity, in in in
leadership in the church. He spoke of that and important
important elements in our world today and important elements for
for the leadership of our church.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
I want to talk about the church and then I
want to talk about America and the American Church separately.
Where do you think there's a lot of guess work
right now? And is he going to be conservative? Is
he going to be liberal? Is he going to be
down the middle? Is he going to be liberal on
some issues and conservative on others. I think a lot
of people are trying to read tea leaves and figure
(02:09):
out which way he's going to take the Catholic Church.
Do you have any thoughts on that.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
I mean, obviously it's a little early, one day into
his pontificate, but in taking the name Leo, you know,
following in the footsteps of Leo the thirteenth. As we know,
he was the pope at the turn of the of
the of the nineteenth century. He was pope during the
industrial Revolution Rerem Novarrem. One of his greatest encyclicals was
(02:40):
on social justice and during the the you know, the
growth of industry, and he stressed the rights of the worker,
the dignity of the human person. So I think that
gives us a bit of an insight into uh in
Pope Leo the fourteenth.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Yeah, it's interesting that you said, And I was kind
of heartened by the fact that you said. It's kind
of early. He's only one day into this, because some
people have been looking at his past writings and his
past postings on even on social media and trying to
make determinations of where he's going to take the church.
But what you said is it's a blank slate right now.
(03:21):
Is that what you believe?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Well, I'm saying that, Yeah, he's I mean now is
Pope's he's the universal pastor. You know, what he has
said in the past certainly gives us some indication of
his style of leadership, his priorities. But as he said,
my mission is to lead people into a deeper love
(03:44):
relationship with Jesus Christ. And I think, you know, as
Pope of the Universal Catholic Church, in so many ways,
his call is to be that universal leader that recognizes
and respects the various additions and cultures that so, you know,
enrich are Catholic faith. It's not one way, it's not
(04:06):
one road, you know, it's not one dogmatic teaching. It's
such a diversity, and that's the richness in the variety
of all the cultures and people that make up our
rich Catholic tradition. And I think he's going to respect
that and enrich that and enhance it.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Oh that's really well said. What about the effect on
the American Catholic Church. I know American Catholics are thrilled
that finally an American was chosen. What kind of an
effect do you see it happening on the church in
this country.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Yeah. I saw an interview with the Holy Father about
two years ago. He was cardinal, and he said, you know,
I have a good understanding obviously, you know, being an
American spending many years as a priest here in the US.
He said, I have a good understanding of the American Church.
And you know, that made me feel good. You know,
he really understands the church. He understands the issues that
(05:02):
face the church in the United States at this time.
So I think we're going to have a pope. We're
going to have a man who who would really listen
and understand the complexity of not only the American Church,
but the church throughout the world.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Well, it was wonderful to talk to you. Thanks, thanks
for those insights, Monsignor Joseph Grimaldy, Vicar General of the
Diocese of Brooklyn, and again that includes part of Queen's
I hope to talk to you again.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Monsignor, thank you very much, have a great day. Bye bye,
Now let's get to Monsignor Joseph Grimaldi. He is Vicar
General of the Diocese of Brooklyn, which includes parts of
Queen's Monsignor, thanks for taking the time to talk to
us today.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Good morning, great to be on.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Good morning. Tell us. Tell us about Pope Lewis the
Leo the fourteenth.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
Look Leo the fourteenth, Yes, previously Cardinal Robert Prevost. As
we all know, we're very proud as Americans that he's
American born and educated. He is a great man who
brings a great diversity of experience with him being an
American and serving for a number of years here is
(00:41):
an Augustinian in the US and then going to the
missions over in Peru serving there is both a pastor
and then as a bishop, true missionary spirit and serving
the poor. And I think that's a big part of
his persona, you might say, is his his sensitivity to
(01:04):
the needs of the poor and the marginalized. And as
he said so beautifully yesterday, uh, you know, the arms
of the church must be open like the colonnade around
Saint Peter's Square to all, to welcome all, and continuing
that same spirit in many ways like Saint Pope Francis,
having that openness, having that willingness to dialogue. Pope Leo said,
(01:30):
it's so important to listen that concept of you know,
sinideality and in the inclusion of laity, in in in
leadership in the church. He spoke of that and important
important elements in our world today and important elements for
for the leadership of our church.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
I want to talk about the church and then I
want to talk about America and the American Church separately.
Where do you think there's a lot of guess work
right now? And is he going to be conservative? Is
he going to be liberal? Is he going to be
down the middle? Is he going to be liberal on
some issues and conservative on others. I think a lot
of people are trying to read tea leaves and figure
(02:09):
out which way he's going to take the Catholic Church.
Do you have any thoughts on that.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
I mean, obviously it's a little early, one day into
his pontificate, but in taking the name Leo, you know,
following in the footsteps of Leo the thirteenth. As we know,
he was the pope at the turn of the of
the of the nineteenth century. He was pope during the
industrial Revolution Rerem Novarrem. One of his greatest encyclicals was
(02:40):
on social justice and during the the you know, the
growth of industry, and he stressed the rights of the worker,
the dignity of the human person. So I think that
gives us a bit of an insight into uh in
Pope Leo the fourteenth.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Yeah, it's interesting that you said, And I was kind
of heartened by the fact that you said. It's kind
of early. He's only one day into this, because some
people have been looking at his past writings and his
past postings on even on social media and trying to
make determinations of where he's going to take the church.
But what you said is it's a blank slate right now.
(03:21):
Is that what you believe?
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Well, I'm saying that, Yeah, he's I mean now is
Pope's he's the universal pastor. You know, what he has
said in the past certainly gives us some indication of
his style of leadership, his priorities. But as he said,
my mission is to lead people into a deeper love
(03:44):
relationship with Jesus Christ. And I think, you know, as
Pope of the Universal Catholic Church, in so many ways,
his call is to be that universal leader that recognizes
and respects the various additions and cultures that so, you know,
enrich are Catholic faith. It's not one way, it's not
(04:06):
one road, you know, it's not one dogmatic teaching. It's
such a diversity, and that's the richness in the variety
of all the cultures and people that make up our
rich Catholic tradition. And I think he's going to respect
that and enrich that and enhance it.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Oh that's really well said. What about the effect on
the American Catholic Church. I know American Catholics are thrilled
that finally an American was chosen. What kind of an
effect do you see it happening on the church in
this country.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Yeah. I saw an interview with the Holy Father about
two years ago. He was cardinal, and he said, you know,
I have a good understanding obviously, you know, being an
American spending many years as a priest here in the US.
He said, I have a good understanding of the American Church.
And you know, that made me feel good. You know,
he really understands the church. He understands the issues that
(05:02):
face the church in the United States at this time.
So I think we're going to have a pope. We're
going to have a man who who would really listen
and understand the complexity of not only the American Church,
but the church throughout the world.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Well, it was wonderful to talk to you. Thanks, thanks
for those insights, Monsignor Joseph Grimaldy, Vicar General of the
Diocese of Brooklyn, and again that includes part of Queen's
I hope to talk to you again.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Monsignor, thank you very much, have a great day. Bye bye,
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