Media meltdown and the Tao of the Pope

In a sea of chaos and muzzled or fake news, the powerless Power of the Church could be the new anchor for unbiased information. Once, the USSR feared Western free media. Press objectivity was a virus that infected the Soviet bubble of falsehood with truth. In self-defense, Moscow accused the press of lying. Now, in […]

Rubio and the Pope-ular

How do you square the US with the Holy See? The meeting in Rome was a step forward, but there is still a long way to go. Trump should have no interest in picking a fight with the Vatican. The Vatican, the paladin of peace, doesn’t want war or hostility with anyone, certainly not with […]

Chinese Frankenstein?

Absolute power with absolute faith. Beijing’s single-minded, long-term race to win the future, and the Western loss of religion and contemporary belief in the moment. Some long-term considerations on the eve of Trump’s visit to Beijing. US President Donald Trump will travel to China in a few days, possibly seeking a temporary fix or respite […]

US-Vatican: Mending Fences

Four humble suggestions for the American administration to restart bilateral ties on the right foot. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is arriving in Rome on Thursday to meet with the Holy See’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Pope Leo XIV. The apparent purpose is to mend relations after recent ruptures and friction. […]

A Tao of War and Peace

On the eve of Trump’s visit to China, the outline of a new Cold War looms larger. Only the Holy See might help. In November 2011, President Barack Obama launched the historic “Pivot to Asia.” After centuries of focus on transatlantic relations, the US shifted its attention to the Asia-Pacific (and to China in particular), […]

A US-EU Royal bridge

Can the UK bridge the widening transatlantic gap? Beyond Trump’s intemperance, many American complaints about Europe are real and are driving the old continent adrift. Can King Charles bring new unity between the two sides of the Atlantic, now drifting apart more than ever? The time is momentous. He goes to the US next week […]

A Persian Tale of Peace

The US and Iran have reached a plateau where they could really negotiate, as the power balance in Tehran evolves. Meanwhile, China’s game could be at a turning point, and the Pope is in it. In a twilight between war and peace, Iran may not yet have found its new dimension. The nation is in […]