The Young Pope’s Monologue:
“Brothers and sisters, let us speak of war—not as a distant shadow of history, but as a mirror reflecting the desires of men. In 1991, the world watched as the powerful descended upon the sands of Babylon. A coalition forged not by love, but by fear. They called it Desert Shield, a name that evokes protection, yet beneath its polished surface, it was a sword poised to strike.
George Herbert Walker Bush—history will call him a liberator. But I wonder, what does heaven call him? For in the guise of justice, he unleashed a storm upon a nation already burdened by its ancient sins and modern despots. Did he pray, I wonder, as the bombs fell like hailstones? Did he whisper the words of Psalm 91? ‘A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.’ Did he believe that he was the hand of God, striking down the wicked?
And yet, Psalm 92 follows. ‘The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.’ But what of the unrighteous? What of those who covet the treasures of the earth—the oil, the black gold hidden beneath the cradle of civilization? The palm tree flourishes, but its roots drink deeply of the land. Did they see the oil not as a gift of creation, but as a prize to be claimed? Babylon, Iraq, a land of empires and exiles, became once more a battleground for ambition.
But here is the paradox, my friends: the rich oil they took cannot anoint them. It cannot consecrate their actions or cleanse their sins. It stains their hands and their hearts. Babylon has always been a lesson, a warning written in the ruins of ziggurats and the cries of the exiled. A kingdom built on pride, a tower reaching to heaven, and a people scattered by the weight of their arrogance.
So, I ask you, who are we in this story? Are we the righteous flourishing in the courts of the Lord? Or are we the architects of Babel, convinced of our invincibility, blind to the judgment that looms over us?
Pray for those who wield power, for they walk a narrow path. Pray for those who suffer, for they bear the weight of sins not their own. And pray for yourselves, that you may see the world not as men do, but as God does. For in the end, it is not shields or swords, nor oil or empires, that will endure. Only love remains. Only love.”
Pope John Paul III’s Sermon:
“Dear brothers and sisters, let us reflect on the Word of God, where the psalms sing of His power, His protection, and His provision. Today, we turn to Psalm 91 and Psalm 92—two hymns that reveal the essence of God’s care for His creation.
Psalm 91 speaks of a shield, a refuge, a promise of safety in the storm. ‘He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.’ What is this shield, if not the love of God that surrounds us? In a world trembling with fear and conflict, this shield is not forged of iron or steel. It is invisible, yet impenetrable. It is the faith that whispers to us in the darkest hours: ‘You are not alone. I am with you.’
This is not the shield of earthly power, which seeks to protect only those within its borders. No, God’s shield stretches across the heavens, sheltering the just and unjust alike. It does not discriminate; it does not falter. But it requires one thing: trust. For the psalmist says, ‘Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him.’
And then, Psalm 92—the song of thanksgiving. Here, the psalmist praises the Lord’s works and His provision. ‘You have anointed me with fresh oil,’ he proclaims. This oil is more than the riches of the earth; it is the richness of God’s Spirit poured out upon His people. It is the oil that anoints kings and prophets, the oil that heals wounds and consecrates the sacred.
But I ask you, what have we done with God’s rich oil? The oil beneath our feet, the oil of the earth, has become a source of greed and conflict. Nations rise and fall for its sake. Men spill blood to claim it. Have we forgotten that this oil is not ours to hoard or exploit? It is God’s gift, meant to bless, not to destroy.
And what of the oil of the Spirit? Have we allowed it to flow freely in our lives, or have we stopped its course with our pride and indifference? The oil of the Spirit is not for display; it is for service. It is for anointing the brokenhearted, for healing the wounds of a divided world, for consecrating our lives to God’s will.
My dear friends, Psalm 91 and Psalm 92 are not merely words to be recited; they are truths to be lived. God’s shield protects us, but it also calls us to be shields for one another. God’s oil enriches us, but it also calls us to be stewards of His blessings.
So today, I invite you to dwell in the secret place of the Most High. Let His shield be your comfort and His oil your calling. And as you go forth, remember that His protection is not a fortress to hide in, but a power to share. His provision is not a treasure to keep, but a gift to give. For in giving, we reflect the very nature of God, who shields us with His love and anoints us with His grace.”