I have great respect for the Pope. I like the Pope. I actually

Hear the words of Donald Trump, spoken in simple form yet carrying weight beyond their surface: “I have great respect for the Pope. I like the Pope. I actually like him.” These words, though straightforward, echo an ancient truth: that power honors power, and that even rulers of nations pause in reverence before figures of spiritual authority. For the Pope, in the eyes of the world, is not merely a man, but a symbol of conscience, humility, and faith. And to declare respect for him is to acknowledge that there exists a power higher than wealth, higher than armies, higher even than crowns—the moral and spiritual order that binds mankind together.

The respect for the Pope is not about the individual alone, but about what he represents: the shepherd who speaks for peace, the servant who kneels to wash feet, the bridge between heaven and earth in the eyes of millions. To say “I like him” may sound casual, yet beneath it lies the recognition that even the most worldly of leaders must acknowledge the enduring influence of spiritual authority. The Pope is not feared for swords, but for words. He conquers not with armies, but with conscience.

History bears witness to the meeting of worldly rulers and spiritual leaders. Recall the meeting of Charlemagne with Pope Leo III, where the warrior-king, crowned in steel, received the crown of emperorship from the hands of the pontiff. That act bound the temporal and the spiritual together, showing that no king stands alone without acknowledgment of higher order. Or remember when Pope John Paul II stood before communist regimes, his presence inspiring millions to rise, not by violence, but by courage. Even the mightiest rulers had to take note, for his moral strength proved more enduring than iron walls.

In Trump’s words there is also a recognition of the value of liking, of human connection. Leaders may clash in politics, in ideology, in worldly affairs, yet to say “I like him” is to build a bridge. It reminds us that behind titles and robes, crowns and offices, stand men—men who can respect one another, even if their realms are vastly different. In this simple acknowledgment lies the seed of diplomacy, the seed of peace.

Yet let us not mistake this for flattery alone. The ancients knew that to respect a spiritual figure was also to show humility. Even the mightiest emperor, standing before a prophet or a priest, would lower his head, for he knew that worldly dominion is fleeting, but the soul endures. Thus, to voice respect for the Pope is to show an understanding—however faint—that material success is not the only measure of greatness.

The lesson for us is clear: do not scorn those who represent values different from your own. Even if your power lies in commerce, in politics, or in strength, remember to honor those who wield influence through compassion, wisdom, and faith. True greatness is not found in isolation, but in respect for others, especially those who embody a higher calling.

And so, let your actions follow. Learn to say with sincerity, “I respect you. I like you.” Do not withhold such words out of pride, for they carry the power to heal divisions and to build bridges between worlds. Respect those who live for spirit as much as those who fight for power. By doing so, you yourself will become more whole, more balanced, more enduring.

Thus remember the wisdom hidden in Trump’s simple words: “I have great respect for the Pope. I like the Pope. I actually like him.” For to honor what is spiritual while standing in the realm of the temporal is to acknowledge the full breadth of human greatness. The leader who respects the shepherd, and the shepherd who prays for the leader, together reveal that strength and humility, power and conscience, must walk hand in hand.