Teresa Tomio
Appearances
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
Hey, Vince, a belated Buona Pasqua to you, my friend. Happy Easter.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
It was very sad, but as you said, given all the medical complications, I don't think it was very surprising. I was watching a lot of our coverage on EW10 Catholic TV, and even when he was greeting the people yesterday on the Loggia, that famous balcony in the center of St. Peter's Square,
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
I don't think he looked like he had improved all that much since he had been back at his residence at the Casa Santa Marta. I thought he looked very weak. It was beautiful to see him there, to greet the pilgrims in St. Peter's, a beautiful sunny day in Rome, the most important day on the Christian calendar. So it was very special. So I think mixed feelings, really sad but not surprised.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
It's a combination of both. He's been very weak, although he has been doing some writing. He did write the meditations to the Stations of the Cross, the Way of the Cross and the Colosseum for Friday evening, even though he wasn't there. He also wrote some messages for his weekly audiences and his messages for the Angelus on Sundays, just putting those messages out there.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
Those events weren't actually held. But usually what happens in this case is there is a group, part of the Roman Curia, that would run things for him. And so, for example, Cardinal Farrell, the one who made the announcement, is considered as a fancy Italian name for him. Basically, he's the administrator of the Vatican.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
So he's been very involved in that, as are the other cardinals who are there based in Rome.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
Well, you know, absolutely, and, you know, we say, as my mother used to say, we offer everything up to God and put it before the cross. The Church is His. It was founded by Christ Jesus on the Rock St. Peter, and we trust in the process.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
We trust in the apostolic succession, and, you know, the Pope is the Vicar of Christ, and the Cardinals will be getting together after the time of repose, and where folks can pay respects to the Pope over the next several days, then the funeral, then the conclave, so we'll see where it goes, but I do think this is going to be a very different week for people heading to Rome.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
For example, for my archdiocese, the Archdiocese of Detroit, we have hundreds of people events on their way because this weekend is a huge event or was going to be a huge event. The canonization of what's considered the first millennial saint, a young man by the name of Carlo Acutis. So their plans are all being altered. And so they're finding that their pilgrimage is going to look much different.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
So they'll be going to pay respect to the Pope. They'll be part of a huge event. It'll be very different for them, but I think very powerful and beautiful at the same time. We will see. We trust in God's providence. And for Christians, as you know, this is it. This is the week. I mean, this is the most important week on the calendar. Easter is it. That's who we are. We're an Easter people.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
And it was beautiful that he passed away. If you have to pass away, what a great time to go and be with the Lord, right, on Easter Monday, the day after the most important day in the year for Christians. So, again, mixed emotions. But it's always a tough time. I mean, for Catholics, this is our, we call him our Holy Father. This is our Pope, the Vicar of Christ.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
So it's always a challenge to see the chair empty or the sede vacante.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
I thought it was a very strong sign of openness on both parts of the Pope and the Vice President to meet together, even though they disagree on this issue of immigration. But in the Catholic Church, what's beautiful about the faith is there are things that we have to agree on as Catholics. There are certain morals, certain things, faith and morals, when the Pope is teaching us from the chair.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
from the chair of St. Peter, right? We can't disagree with that. But the issue of immigration is something upon which Catholics can disagree. We have to care for the poor, care for the immigrant. But the way we do it, we can discuss that, and there could be different ways. So there's a mutual respect, I think, in J.D. Vance being a Catholic and the Pope being who he is, who he was, the Pope.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
So J.D. Vance recognizes that. But we also understand, and the catechism itself is very clear, the teachings of the Church say that that a country has a right to protect its borders and that the people who are coming into a country have to respect the laws of that country.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
So the Catholic Church is clear we have to help the people in need, but that countries have a right to protect themselves and protect their borders. So I think it was a good sign, a good step in the right direction, even though there obviously is some strong disagreement there.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
Right, right. And again— The Church is very clear on this teaching, and I think people will do themselves a favor, and I know for a long time I didn't do this, but see what the Church actually says about these issues. And J.D. Vance is very well versed on the Church teaching. And I do think it was a really good sign that the two met, though, and how special it must be for J.D.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
Vance as a Catholic, as a vice president, to have met with the Pope right before his death.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
Well, here's the thing, and you and I know this, right, because we're both Catholic. We're raised in the Catholic faith. We know the faith, and from our perspective as journalists covering these things, it always intrigues me, and I spent 20, half of my career in the secular media. It always intrigues me the way that secular media want to cover this. They want to split us in two.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
Now, when you look at the teachings of the Church, some people may look at some things, such as immigration or social justice or things like that as those teachings that may appear to lean toward the left, and then other issues such as life issues, marriage, sexuality, leaning to the right.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
But at the end of the day, the Church's teachings don't conflict, and the Holy Father's responsibility is to uphold those teachings. And despite the way Francis did express himself, maybe differently than other popes have in the past, he was so clear on marriage, he was so clear on abortion. I mean, his language on abortion was among the strongest in recent popes.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
On gender, very clear on gender, absolutely, on the whole gender ideology issue. So at the end of the day, whether a pope may, from the world's view, seem more left of center or more right of center, we don't look at it that way in the Church, because the teachings don't break away. They work all together in unison to balance each other out.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
So I do think that there's some interesting people that have been brought up, and You know, there's this list that's been floating around since Pope Francis went into the hospital back in February, and I don't know where they got it. It could be from one of the main reporters, Nicole Winfield, who's been covering the Vatican for years. I don't know if it's her list or not.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
But it's all over the map with the popes. There are some popes that they're describing as very liberal. Some popes they're just describing as very conservative. At the end of the day, the Church is the Church, and God is going to put in that position the person that he thinks is right for that position right now in time. So I have faith. In the church, I love the church.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
I came back to the church after being 20 years away from it. I just think it's beautiful the way we have this, I don't want to be so technical to call it a system, but this beautiful way that it's handed down over the centuries, and I trust that process.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
again, on these issues, especially in the area of immigration and, as you mentioned, charitable giving. There are teachings that we can look at and go to the Catechism of the Catholic Church for this, that we can have healthy discussions on these things, and I think that's what's great about the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Faith.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
I mean, if you look at the body of teaching in the Church, it's massive, and there really is something for everybody at the end of the day.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
Oh, that one, my friend, we'll have to consult the Lord on that. But the process itself, so right now we are, the Pope, I just checked with my sources in Rome, the Pope's body will be at the Vatican. It will be moved there on Wednesday at St. Peter's.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
And so people who are going there, maybe on pilgrimage, already plan to be there, maybe people who are coming in just to pay their respects, they will be able to pay their respects to the Pope. And usually they have a period of mourning. It could be as long as nine days, but I'm hearing it's going to be a little bit shorter than that.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
Then they'll have the funeral, and then after that the conclave will convene. Usually it's in about two weeks. So within two weeks they'll convene, and it has to be at 90. Cardinals have to approve in order for the next pope to be chosen. And I don't know. I mean, it really is up to the Holy Spirit, up to the Lord, but we'll see this white smoke, and when we see the white smoke, we have a pope.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
Black smoke means there's indecision at that point.
The Dan Bongino Show
Something Suspicious Is Happening At The Pentagon | Episode 27
Yeah, thanks, Vincent. Just to let you know, I'll be in Italy. My husband and I live there part-time, and I'll be going over next week, and I'll probably be reporting from Rome, so I'm happy to answer any other questions you have and be on again.