Real America – Dan Ball talks with Harden about the New Pople Leo XIV
In a compelling segment of Real America, OANN host Dan Ball sat down with Jim Harden, CEO of CompassCare, to unpack the surprising and historic election of Pope Leo XIV — a choice that has already begun sending ideological shockwaves through both the Catholic Church and the global culture war.
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Carlo Maria Vigano II, is being hailed by traditionalists as a much-needed spiritual course correction after years of progressive drift in the Vatican. Harden, a long-time advocate for life, faith, and the restoration of Judeo-Christian values in the West, didn’t mince words about the significance of this new pontificate.
“The election of Pope Leo XIV is a clear repudiation of the soft totalitarianism creeping into every institution,” Harden said. “This is not just about doctrine. It’s about the West reclaiming its moral spine.”
Dan Ball opened the conversation by asking Harden why this papal shift matters to Protestants, evangelicals, and non-Catholics. Harden’s answer was direct: “The Pope’s voice reverberates beyond Rome. He influences global ethics, international diplomacy, and the cultural posture of millions of Christians. With Pope Leo XIV, we’re seeing a clarion call back to truth, order, and objective morality — something the pro-life movement desperately needs.”
Ball referenced Pope Leo XIV’s first homily, in which the new pontiff lamented a “culture that calls good evil and evil good,” and pledged to reassert “the immutable teachings of Christ.” Harden called that statement “revolutionary in its orthodoxy.”
“For decades, we’ve seen a church leadership trying to accommodate the world,” Harden said. “Leo XIV is a throwback — but in the best way. He’s not seeking applause; he’s calling people to repentance.”
The interview touched on the symbolic significance of the name “Leo.” Harden noted that Pope Leo XIII was a fierce opponent of socialism and wrote prophetically about its dangers in the 19th century. “It’s no coincidence,” Harden said. “Choosing the name Leo signals a roaring resistance to globalist ideologies—Marxism, secularism, moral relativism. This Pope is stepping into the arena, not retreating from it.”
Ball asked Harden what the election might mean for persecuted Christians and the sanctity of life. Harden emphasized that Pope Leo XIV’s long track record of defending unborn children, opposing gender ideology, and denouncing euthanasia could embolden a worldwide revival of conscience.
“The pro-life cause has felt abandoned by many faith leaders in recent years,” Harden said. “Now, we have a spiritual general who’s not afraid to name evil, call it what it is, and fight back. That’s what CompassCare has been doing on the ground every day — and now, we’re not alone.”
In a particularly striking moment, Harden connected Pope Leo’s rise with the larger battle against censorship, cancel culture, and institutional intimidation. “We’ve been firebombed. We’ve been surveilled. And we’ve been slandered. All for simply offering women real choices and dignity,” Harden said. “Pope Leo understands that tyranny comes disguised in compassion. He won’t be fooled.”
Dan Ball then asked whether this papacy could trigger backlash. Harden replied, “Absolutely. Any voice that dares to speak truth in a post-truth world will be mocked, misquoted, and misrepresented. But that’s how you know it’s hitting a nerve.”
The interview concluded with a challenge from Harden to American Christians across denominations: “We’re entering a new era. One of clarity, not compromise. Of courage, not comfort. Pope Leo XIV’s election is not just a Catholic moment—it’s a culture-defining moment.”
He added: “The culture of death isn’t going to go quietly. But neither will the Church—at least not now.”
As the segment wrapped, Dan Ball praised Harden’s clarity and conviction, thanking him for his leadership and his bold pro-life advocacy.
