2025 Predictions
1) There will not be a papal conclave.
2) The USCCB will oppose deportations.
3) At least one SCOTUS justice will retire.
4) At least one Cardinal will be a source of major scandal.
5) Vatican finances will deteriorate even more.
6) The summer will bring another social upheaval like 2020.
7) The US border crisis will be mostly resolved.
8) Israel will attack Iranian nuclear sites.
9) The SSPX will consecrate a bishop.
10) Fr. Z will not be made a “Monsignor”.
1) Trump will be elected [+1]
2) Hamas will be destroyed in Gaza [+0.5]
3) The Ukrainian war will continue with no results [+1]
4) DDF will continue to confuse Catholic doctrine [+1]
5) The ITC will write about the feminine character of the Church and no one will care [-1]
6) There will not be women deacons [+1]
7) The Eucharistic Renewal in the USA will fizzle [+1]
8) The US border crisis will not be resolved [+1]
9) We still won’t know what is in the China Vatican deal [+1]
10) Fr. Z will not be made a “Monsignor” [+1 – I’m 65! C’MON!]
Looking back
2023 Predictions
2022 Predictions
2021 Predictions
2020 Predictions
2019 Predictions
2018 Predictions
2017 Predictions
2016 Predictions
2015 Predictions
2014 Predictions
2013 Predictions
2012 Predictions
2011 Predictions
2010 Predictions
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A couple of comments on the predictions:
Re:
1) How long, O Lord? Or will there be rumors of a double?
3) I have it from a very reliable source that Mrs. Alito will not let Justice Alito retire, and Justice Thomas is determined to stay on in spite of his detractors, so, barring health or other exigencies, we won’t lose the two best men on the Court.
My own thoughts:
1) I agree that there won’t be a papal conclave in 2025. 2026 at the earliest and likely 2027. Pope Francis is still 5 years younger than Pope Leo XIII when he passed.
2) I agree that the USCCB will release a relatively weak and generally unread by most declaration about deportations. Certain bishops (McElroy specially) will be much more forceful.
3) I would like to disagree about a SCOTUS justice retiring, but I think I have to agree.
4) What is a major scandal? How is that defined? Without more specifics, I’m not sure I agree.
5) This, I most wholeheartedly, agree will happen – the Vatican’s finances will continue to spiral.
6) Of these 10 predictions, this is the one I most disagree with.
7) While the border crisis will not be resolved, it will not be making headlines like it has the past 2 years.
8) Will Israel use warplanes to attack Iran’s nuclear sites? Doubtful, but that was not Father’s prediction. It has become obvious to Iran’s leadership that Israel can be disruptive in many different ways, and I would see another Stuxnet-like inside job that disrupts it.
9) With 2 bishops, and the passing of the third in 2024, I agree. Will it be a June consecration like it was in 1988? If it doesn’t happen in 2025, it will happen in the first three months of 2026.
10) If I had any influence….your prediction might be wrong. If it was up to me, I would give the whole she-bang – protonotary apostolic. I remember our previous bishop (Bishop Finn) was able to give this to an already-recognized monsignor.
I’d like to offer one. The American people will start to demonstrate real displeasure at the actions of the USCCB in terms of their helping import foreign individuals into our sovereign nation without our consent and begin to express that displeasure more overtly. The USCCB has grown fairly useless not only in terms of defending Catholicism and faithful Catholics, it has exceeded the limits of prudence by continuing to support an invasion against the will of the American people, made clear by the recent election. We need a Robby Starbucks in the Catholic world, because the USCCB seems entirely detached from reality in a few ways. They need to cease their migrant activities and cheerleading. Enough already.
Hmmm…
Nos. 2, 4, and 7 look like slam-dunks. No. 7 looks likely. I’d amend No. 3 to say “retire or die in office.” No. 1 looks likely, because the incumbent will hang on as long as he can.
I think you’ll have a score of +3 or better this year.
Sometimes the pope makes a cardinal “in pectore.” The name is not announced, but the pope knows who it is.
Has there ever been a list of monsignori, with one in pectore?
re: 2024 prediction no. 7
Did Eucharistic revival fizzle out?
I thought there was a lot done, various creative initiatives, some reported conversions.
Is it considered to have fizzled out because traditional practices like reception of the Eucharist kneeling and on the tongue were not widely reinstated?
What would have been considered a success?
re: predictions of 2024 overall
I think this is the most accurate, highest scoring set of predictions ever.
I’m not sure I’d give you a +1 on the Eucharistic Revival fizzling. I have seen increased preaching on the True Presence, including from unexpected sources, and a significant increase in the availability of Adoration. Many of the local parishes seem to have added at least several hours of Exposition a week, up from 0 for many of them. I have also seen a not insignificant increase in First Friday and Saturday devotions.
amenamen says: “in pectore
Yes, I am confident that I am a Monsignor in pectore. As a matter of fact, I have chosen to self-identify as a Monsignor and my pronouns are “Monsignor” and “Reverend Monsignor”. Having been thus informed you are now obliged to accompany me as we walk together toward my identifying as a Protonotary Apostolic (which I already am… in pectore).
See how this works?
Robert says: Eucharistic Revival fizzling
Okay, you an another commentator have questioned this. Fair enough.
On the other hand, has there been a widespread return to, say, the Sacrament of Penance?
I think that will be the key indicator. Other things must also follow, such as fewer people going to Communion until the restoration of the confessional is commenced.
At the same time I know that things do not happen over night.
Roman wasn’t built in a day, nor was it torn down.
Minutatim.
Gutatim.
Peditemptim.
Brick by brick.
I think you will score 100 percent this year, which means unfortunately you won’t get the Mgr you deserve.
However one of these is too easy; it’s obvious the SSPX will consecrate at least one bishop, but probably four. The case for eight, ten or twelve is easy to make given that the Fraternity has tripled since the last four consecrations
But I think to really earn that prophetic Kudos, you should also say whether the SSPX will consecrate a bishop with the Pope’s blessing or not.
The USCCB support of illegal immigration is wrong, but not because of the popular lack of support. Note that abortion rights carry great popular support. No, illegal immigration is immoral on a number of levels, not least of which is the massive facilitation of human trafficking – all while Catholic Charities receives huge financial support from the government to do so. It has been a source of great scandal for Catholics for many years. I look forward to the USCCB, and Catholic Charities in particular, losing any credibility and support they may continue to have in the coming years.
#9–Father, would you venture a guess whether this will have Vatican approval? Or will this repeat the aftermath of 1988? Do you have any insight whether there are negotiations happening now?
On #5, when the so-called wealth of the Church is brought up, I say the Vatican is like someone who lives in a $2 million house and has $37.86 in the bank.
There will be a Conclave and it will be the longest in history.
Sotomayor will have to step down for health reasons.
New pope will recognize Fr. Z’s contributions to the Faith with His WDPRS and make him a Monsignor.
Last year’s number 9 shows that if the Vatican really wants to keep something a secret, it can. It begs the question, though, what Beijing has on the Vatican that this deal gets renewed time after time. Even Nancy Pelosi sees that the Church doesn’t gain anything with it. My prediction is that by the end of this year we still don’t know what is in it. I feel some hesitation to add “I hope I’m wrong,” though.
I always look forward to this post! Thank you, “Monsignor”.
You are wrong about Israel destroying Hamas in Gaza. The resistance brigades are still attacking the Israeli invaders and even sending rockets into Israel. Israel is murdering a whole lot of Palestinians. Hamas is the government and it is still there. Allowing starvation and freezing of the Palestinians is the latest move by Israel, along with destroying homes, shelters, hospitals, and tents. Israel will not be successful against Iran. The Houthis are fighting like mad against the terror state of Israel. Very admirable actually. Their leader stated that they fear the punishment of God in eternity for not fighting the genocide of Israel against the Palestinians more than any suffering inflicted on them by the US and Israel bombing them in this life! So why are we allowing our taxes to supply weapons and money for the bombing of Gaza, Lebanon, Yemen and now the West Bank, but not for providing for the starving, homeless and freezing Palestinians? On the Day of Judgement it will go ill for the US. Matthew 25:31. I wonder about the socalled Christians here in the US who cheerlead the bombing, especially the Catholics among them. Again Matthew 25:31.
Relative to the above is this at Crisis.
Chicago: Where Eucharistic Revival Goes to Die
I’m afraid that many dioceses are more like Chicago than unlike.
RE: Fizzling
From my limited vantage point, it seamed from the start that the Eucharistic Revival was one of those initiatives that the boss has that really is just an idea without any goal or meaning metric for determining if one is advancing towards that goal. In other words, the upteenth project for the year that needs to be worked on that is doomed to die on the vine.
When you look at what is on my diocese webpage for the Eucharistic Revival, it is exactly that – all front loaded grandiose ideas, without a real goal or metric for checking progress towards that goal. And my diocese is one of the less bad ones.
My parish priest did well in the initial stages for the Eucharistic Revival, but largely things petered out and supplanted by other initiatives.
—
The difficulty with the Eucharistic Revival is that the modern Church does not know really who she is, what she wants, or what she is doing anymore. Case in point: The second image on my dioceses’ webpage (full width image) for the Eucharistic Revival is a closeup of a woman Eucharistic Minister (sic) holding out a very large bowl of hosts towards the viewer. Ok then.
“See how this works?”
Yes, Your Eminence.
Of course you will not be made a Monsignor. Why should you? Being made a Monsignor is in recognition of what the priest has done for the Church. And you have done for the Church???
[I’ll take that as a “no” vote.]
– The TLM and all things transitional will continue to be attacked and persecuted.
2025 is when the two year grants for diocesean TLMs automatically expire. How many expect them to be extended. In my diocese almost all parishes missed their budget goals EXCEPT those parishes that had the TLM.
Fr. Z says:
2) The USCCB will oppose deportations.
Tom G says
2) I agree that the USCCB will release a relatively weak and generally unread by most declaration about deportations. Certain bishops (McElroy specially) will be much more forceful.
The ever-helpful Kathleen10 says
I’d like to offer one. The American people will start to demonstrate real displeasure at the actions of the USCCB in terms of their helping import foreign individuals into our sovereign nation without our consent and begin to express that displeasure more overtly.
I agree, and have suggestion: DEFUND the bishops.
Well, I don’t mean that absolutely and in every respect, but partially, yes.
I have a specific idea in mind: Can we start a non-profit organization whose purpose is to receive donations that would be donations you ordinarily would send to the diocese (or any other Catholic entity), to be held until later, with a specific notification to the diocese (or other charity): “We have received X dollars ear-marked for you. The donor would have sent them to you, except that the donor finds your practice of Y is contrary to Catholic principles and their intentions. When they have received sufficient evidence that you have stopped Y and repudiate that practice, the funds (plus earnings) will be forwarded to you in their name. This possible donation has a deadline of Date Z (e.g. 12-31-2028). After that date, the funds will instead be donated to another charity that does comply with Catholic principles.” Or words to that effect.
Is there any problem in principle with (a) starting such an organization, (b) accepting donations on that basis, and (c) withholding the funds on the basis of the donor’s future decision for or against the intended donee? Does anyone know how to get an organization like this off the ground?
In Re last years:
7) The Eucharistic Renewal in the USA will fizzle [+1]
Fr. Z is right about that. The evidence of a non-fizzle would have been things like the following:
(a) a substantial (more than 5%, more like 20%) increase in the number of “Catholics” who think the Eucharist is Jesus – body, blood, soul and divinity.
(b) substantial and continuing increase in the number of Catholics going to weekly mass;
(c) substantial and persistent increase number of Catholics in line for confessions;
(d) Substantial, no, MAJOR increase in the times and hours of confessions available at parishes (and chapels, oratories, etc);
(e) Vast increase in the number of homilies directed toward examination of conscience and not receiving communion if you do not reasonably believe you are in a state of grace – with (in no uncertain terms) advice that you have no good reason for such belief if you are using contraception, cohabitating, or divorced and remarried without an annulment; leading to
(f) a vast decrease in the lines for communion, a vast decrease in Catholics using contraception, followed by a vast increase in lines for confession, THEN a return to long lines for communion.
So: yep, a fizzle.
~TonyO
Given the state of the Church, we could probably be a bit more basic in terms metrics, ie. has the general din before and after Mass been lessened? No. Ok, then I don’t think the Eucharistic Renewal has renewed people’s sense of being in the presence of their God.
//
While I agree with you that people shouldn’t be funding bishops who treat the Church as a NGO, as a Protestant convert, Protestant land has tried the “hold the money hostage until you bend the clergy to your will”. It is how you end up with elder councils micromanaging rent-a-pastors.
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Father, with respect, I have to disagree with you about the success of the Eucharistic Revival, at least in my Diocese (Cleveland) and parish.
Our good Bishop Edward Malesic encouraged and participated in endless activities, Masses, and devotions designed to bring us closer to the Eucharist for the entire year. I am sure it was not easy, but he made it a priority along with all his other duties and responsibilities.
Among other things, he started broadcasting daily prayers with a short homily via audio email from himself, his Auxiliary, Bishop Woost, and a variety of diocesan priests. This has become a twice-daily habit for me and thousands of others in the Diocese.
For the people in my area (which is in Akron, 40 miles from Cleveland and one of the corners of the Diocese) His Excellency came to us on the hottest day of the year and celebrated Mass at our local AA MLB ballpark for 900+ Catholics. This was followed by a public procession with the Blessed Sacrament for several blocks downtown, ending in my non-air-conditioned parish church, where we then had a couple of talks on the Eucharist from the Bishop and other priests, followed by an hour of Adoration. I was given the job of finding 5 altar servers for the Mass and procession. When word got out, over a dozen of the children from the parish – in addition to 4 local seminarians – *begged* to be included, knowing they would be wearing black cassocks and surplices in the hot sun for hours and that there was a great deal of work involved. My pastor did not have the heart to turn any of them away, so they all served – beautifully, reverently, and with great dignity, knowing they were serving Jesus Himself and acting as His honor guard. And the Bishop and my pastor were the last to leave – well after 10 PM – as they helped to clean the church and greet attendees with great pastoral kindness and encouragement.
In the months that followed, my own good pastor led public Eucharistic processions between our parish and our sister parish (over a mile) through the streets. These were very well-attended by parishioners and visitors of all ages with the support of the Knights of Columbus.
Father also instituted a weekly hour of Adoration, a homily, and Confession mid-week in addition to the weekend Confessions. And he renovated and opened an Adoration chapel which had been the chapel of our former convent. It is used daily and will continue to be used for the foreseeable future.
I know this may not seem impressive for you or most of your readers. But for us here at home, it is a splendid and very welcome result of the Eucharistic Revival and the hard work and faithfulness of our bishop and pastor. We are blessed, and I wish the same for you and all your readers. Viva Christo Rey!
I think most of your predictions are “safe”.
As to the USCCB opposition to deportations, I will respectfully listen to them, and then follow my conscience as they keep promoting us to do. :-)
As to the DDF and Rome in general, I take the attitude of a Medieval peasant: I know my faith, I have a bishop who makes pronouncements now and then, but I stubbornly cling to my faith. Then there is this entity in Rome, but I have no idea what they say or do. :-)
I do know my TLM parish is growing with a lot of young people, and our bishop supports us (i.e, he does not interfere).
As to the last prediction, 65 huh; you are still young Father (at least compared to my age); you still have time. :-)
Concerning the Eucharist, a few years back my regular parish started doing pulpit announcements BEFORE Mass officially begins. This was decided because parishioners (and the priests assigned there) wanted some time to pray and reflect after receiving the Eucharist. Too many parishes have announcements IMMEDIATELY following Communion. I have noticed in recent years that not as many people skedaddle after communion (believe me, I used to usher and at some Masses 20-25 percent would rush out to the parking lot following Communion . While some may have had to go to work after Mass many just wanted to clock in and clock out).
My mother’s parish which is at least 300 miles away started doing announcements in recent years AFTER Mass for the same reason. Funny thing is, I had a difficult time explaining that to her since she thinks it just makes Mass longer and she normally wants to leave fairly quickly after Saturday evening Mass where if I go with her I like to at least recite the St. Michael’s prayer before I leave (I just started doing that a few years ago).
Years ago I had a letter published in a diocesan newspaper (the paper doesn’t do this anymore) pertaining to too many Catholics running the 100 yard dash to the parking lot after Communion. I have heard priests from the pulpit discouraging parishioners from doing this. At one particular parish where I ushered we would purposely not put out the bulletins until the closing song started. The theory was that it discouraged people from leaving early without their receipt from Mass.