Even When It Rings True: A Lesson in Discernment from a Meme

 May 20, 2005

There is a quote going around that I have seen several times.  

“You cannot follow both Christ and the cruelty of kings. A leader who mocks the weak, exalts himself, and preys on the innocent is not sent by God. He is sent to test you. And many are failing.”— Pope Leo XIV

It was bold. Convicting. And honestly—it spoke to everything I believe about compassion, justice, and moral courage. I almost shared it immediately.

But something made me pause.

Just about everyone knows who Pope Leo XIV is by now. He was chosen to be Pope in May 2025. He is the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, a man known for his heart for the poor and his commitment to pastoral care. But here’s the thing: this quote doesn’t appear in any official statement, homily, or address he has given.

It seems the quote has been circulating for some time, likely before his election, and was attributed to “Pope Leo XIV” as a way to give the message weight. This attribution causes confusion.

And that got me thinking. How easy it is to be manipulated not just by lies we disagree with—but by messages we want to be true. When a statement flatters our worldview, reflects our values, or gives us a sense of moral clarity, we’re far more likely to accept it without question. But that’s where discernment becomes essential.

Real discernment isn’t just about spotting what’s false. It’s about learning to pause even when something rings true—to ask, Is this real? Is it grounded? Is it wise to pass along?

We live in a world flooded with information—some of it true, some of it clever, some of it emotionally charged and carefully engineered to push us into outrage, righteousness, or division. If we want to live with integrity, we have to learn how to listen to our conscience and double-check our facts.

Even when we agree with the message. Especially then.

So I didn’t share the meme. But I am sharing this story. Because I think we’re all navigating a strange new world where truth, fiction, faith, and persuasion swirl together faster than we can process. And we’re all learning as we go.

Here’s what I’m learning:

- That discernment is a habit worth building.
- That emotional truth and factual truth are not always the same.
- And that pausing is a sacred act.

A Final Thought

The quote may not be from Pope Leo XIV. But it still spoke to something inside me—and maybe inside you too. That part is still worth paying attention to. And maybe that’s where discernment begins: not in rejecting every word, but in learning how to listen deeply and still ask questions.

Still Curious. Still Growing, Still Grateful.

by Janis @ Simple Raw and Natural