When President Trump officially announced the tariffs his administration would place on countries around the world just over a month ago, he warned that there would be a painful adjustment period. But he also claimed that it would be worth it in the end. And while it is still far too early to know if he was correct, the trade deal he announced with the United Kingdom yesterday morning could offer a glimpse into what’s to come.

As of yesterday, leaders from both nations continued to emphasize that the details of their agreement were still being finalized, but the broad strokes appear to be set:

• The 10 percent tariff that the Trump administration imposed on most nations will remain in place for England as well. However, Britain will be able to send 100,000 cars annually into the United States without further cost—reduced from the 25 percent that was previously placed on British vehicles. America is the largest market for English cars.
• The UK will join the US in imposing 25 percent tariffs on all foreign steel and aluminum, though those materials will be traded freely between the two countries. Considering that Britain sent roughly $492 million worth of steel to the US last year, the lack of tariffs here is a significant development. In addition, pharmaceuticals are similarly exempt from any tariffs.
• In return, American beef, ethanol, and other agricultural products will be newly available in England and will be allowed to enter the country through a streamlined process. Together, they are expected to account for roughly $5 billion worth of exports.
• The US already runs a trade surplus with the UK, which made negotiations simpler. That said, Trump also noted in his press conference announcing the deal that “The UK was largely closed, very much closed to trade, and now it’s opened,” which could have further implications for American exports to the country down the line.

While the trade has given some reason for optimism that future deals will be similarly successful, there is reason to doubt that the agreement with England will prove to be a model for other nations.

Of the governments with which the US is negotiating, Britain was among the most motivated. In fact, the deal was the culmination of nearly a decade of work by the nation’s leaders to reach a bilateral trade agreement with the US. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke of a future trade deal with America as one of the motivations for Brexit back in 2016 but, until yesterday, it had yet to happen.

As Trump’s administration continues its talks with other countries, it’s unclear to what degree these negotiations will mirror what happens going forward. And while some economists expect trade deals with Japan and India to come next, the situation with China will continue to loom largest until some resolution is achieved. Fortunately, it appears steps are being taken to do just that.

Is China next?

China recently announced that it would meet with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Switzerland this weekend. The talks will be the first steps toward a more substantive negotiation since mutually escalating tariffs essentially shut down all trade between the world’s two largest economies.

Both sides have attempted to convey a position of strength heading into the talks, but the truth is that each is suffering from the current economic environment. Chinese factories, for example, experienced their steepest slowdown in over a year, while the American economy has been marred by unpredictability and fear.

Again, none of this should come as a surprise. Charging more to bring a product into a country than you can charge to sell it—the reality in both the US and China—is not exactly a great way to make a profit.

However, there is reason for hope. While this week’s negotiations are unlikely to lead to a deal, President Trump did sound open to a significant de-escalation if the talks go well. Some expect the rates to drop to as low as 50 percent while discussions continue, though it’s unclear if the administration would really be willing to reduce them by that much.

The mere hope that the deal with England and the talks with China could result in a more stable and profitable economy was enough to send markets soaring in the US, though.

And that reaction, based on little more than educated guesses and hope about the future, offers an important reminder for each of us today.

The only one not guessing

One of the primary reasons markets have fluctuated so much in recent weeks is that the Trump administration’s tariff policies, as well as the response from other nations, have removed much of the predictability people used to believe was built into the marketplace. Such volatility is why it’s important not to take promises of better days or imminent doom too seriously.

That doesn’t mean you should stick your head in the sand or act as though what goes on in the rest of the world won’t impact you. But remember that even the experts are guessing on this stuff. They’re hopefully making educated guesses, but they’re still just guesses.

And that’s the case for far more than the economy.

One reason Jesus tells us not to worry about tomorrow is that we can’t know what tomorrow will bring (Matthew 6:34). It’s alright to plan, and we should exercise wise stewardship over the gifts he’s given us. But, at the end of the day, God is the only one who knows the future. He’s the only one who is not guessing.

As such, the most logical response we can have to the volatility and unpredictability of our current circumstances is to trust God and follow his lead.

Doing so doesn’t mean we’ll never struggle or that there will never be situations where we’re taken by surprise. But if we’ve placed our faith in Christ and truly handed our lives over to him, then even when the unexpected and painful happen, it doesn’t have to rob us of the peace and joy found in our relationship with him (Galatians 5:22).

And one of the best ways to help people see the power of Christ is to exude his peace and joy at a time when he is the only logical explanation for them.

So the next time you see the markets stumble, come across some other troubling story in the news, or encounter a hardship that reminds you of just how little control we really have in this world, take your fears and anxieties to God. Then embrace the peace and joy that only he can give.

Let’s start right now.

Quote of the day:

“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.” —Corrie Ten Boom

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At 11:08 a.m., Dallas time, white smoke emerged from above the Sistine Chapel, announcing to the world that a new pope has been elected to lead the Roman Catholic Church. A long list of candidates had been in speculation for days. Betting platforms had an Italian cardinal in the lead, with a Filipino candidate second. None had an American high on their list, as no American has ever been selected as pope.

Until today.

Robert Francis Prevost has been elected the 267^th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. It was stirring to watch his introduction to the massive crowds in St. Peter’s Square and to hear the Chicago native speak in perfect Italian and Spanish.

Prevost was previously a missionary in Peru, working as a teacher and parish priest. In 2023, Pope Francis brought him to the Vatican to head the powerful office that vets bishop nominations from around the world. As a result, he was highly prominent going into the conclave. But as an American, he was thought to be a long shot for the papacy at best.

What kind of pope will he be?

Pope Leo was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois. He is also a citizen of Peru, where he served as a missionary and then an archbishop.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Villanova University in 1977, then took his solemn vows and studied theology at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago in 1982. He earned degrees in divinity and canon law, including a doctorate from the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

Pope Leo told the Vatican News in October 2024, “A bishop is called to serve. His authority is service.” He added that a bishop “is not supposed to be a little prince sitting in his kingdom, but rather called authentically to be humble, to be close to the people he serves, to walk with them, to suffer with them, and to look for ways that he can better live the gospel message in the midst of his people.”

He is seen as a centrist overall. Like Pope Francis, he has long embraced marginalized groups. However, he also opposes ordaining women as deacons and is considered to be conservative regarding church doctrine.

What could his name signify?

When a cardinal is elected pope, he takes a papal name. In this case, the new pope chose Leo XIV.

The first pope by this name, known today as Pope St. Leo I (the Great), reigned from AD 440–61. His chief aim was to sustain the unity of the church in the face of heresies threatening her future.

Another notable pope to adopt the name was Leo X (1475–1521), the Medici pope who led the church when Martin Luther began his reform efforts and declared Luther a heretic before dying that same year. He also financed the building of St. Peter’s Basilica through the selling of indulgences, which prompted Luther to post his 95 Theses and sparked what became the Protestant Reformation.

However, the new pope’s choice of name seems to be a clear nod to Pope Leo XIII, who was known for his traditional doctrine combined with intellectualism. He was pope from 1878 to 1903, helping the church engage with the culture with less defensiveness but without compromising biblical authority and compassion.

What is his message to the world?

Watching the new pope speak, I was moved by the thought that no other person in human history has been able to engage as much of the world as the new pope did today.

His leadership encompasses 1.4 billion Catholics, a larger number than ever before, and a population that rivals China and India as the largest “nations” on earth. But unlike them, his congregants live in nearly every country on the planet, and his political and cultural significance circles the globe in ways that far transcend even the church he now leads.

If you include the technological platforms of our day by which his election was broadcast, it seems likely that Pope Leo XIV is more visible as a leader than any leader has ever been.

But to what end?

In his first remarks to the world, the pope declared:

God loves us. God loves you all. And evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God.

Therefore, without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, let us go forward.

We are disciples of Christ. Christ precedes us. The world needs his light. Humanity needs him as the bridge to be reached by God and his love.

Help us too, then, each other, to build bridges—with dialogue, with encounter—uniting all of us to be one people, always in peace.

Then he called the church to be united, “always seeking peace, justice, always trying to work as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the gospel, to be missionaries.”

How people will know we are Jesus’ disciples

An American who served as a missionary in Peru and then as a leader in the Vatican before ascending to its highest post calling for unity in proclaiming the gospel is a metaphor and invitation to us all.

The night before he died for humanity, Jesus prayed to his Father that his followers across all time would “be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me” (John 17:22–23). Earlier that night, he taught his disciples, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Partisan divisions plague the politics of much of the West today. Geopolitical conflicts extend around the world, from India and Pakistan to Iran and the Middle East, China and Taiwan, and Russia and Ukraine. In a time when people yearn for unity and community, fighting between Christian denominations and in Christian churches pushes them further from the Savior they need so desperately.

Pope Leo XIV’s first message is therefore timely and urgent. These are days for God’s people to unite as missionaries to our culture as we proclaim the gospel in peace.

Whatever our differences with Catholics and other Christians, let us unite in praying for the new pope, asking God to give him wisdom, courage, and direction. And let us find our own way to be “always seeking peace, justice, always trying to work as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ.”

Jesus modeled the servant love he called us to emulate by washing the feet of his disciples (John 13:1–17). When we stand before him one day, he will not ask any of us—including the new pope—about our title. But he will want to examine our towel.

How dirty will yours be?

Denison Forum

The papal conclave that begins today will be the most geographically diverse in the church’s two-thousand-year history, with clerics from seventy countries participating. They have been meeting at the Vatican nearly every day since April 22, the day after Pope Francis’s death, to discuss matters facing the global church.

This afternoon, one of the most famous and yet secretive traditions in history will officially begin as the cardinals meet to elect the church’s 267^th pope. Here’s what you need to know and why it matters to us all.

What is a “conclave”?

In 1268, cardinals gathered to elect a new pope. They became deadlocked and continued meeting for almost three years. Local magistrates and residents became so frustrated that they locked the cardinals into a room until a decision was reached.

This is where the term conclave originates, meaning “with a key” in Latin.

The cardinals were fed only bread and water passed through a window. When this did not expedite the process, the magistrate removed the roof of the room to “let the Holy Spirit in.” This led to the election of Pope Gregory X, who laid the foundation for the conclave process still used today.

The first conclave to be held in the Sistine Chapel was in 1492. However, the chapel did not become the sole location for papal elections until 1878. Interestingly, the chapel, which was completed in 1481, was purportedly designed to match the dimensions of Solomon’s Temple.

The tradition of burning the ballots dates back to at least the year 1417. However, the iconic black and white smoke—the former when no pope is elected and the latter when a new pope is chosen—was not introduced until 1914. The appropriate smoke is produced by burning the ballots with a mix of chemicals. Bells also chime once a new pope has been elected, a practice that began in 2005.

Who is eligible?

Catholics believe that Peter was the first pope and that his remains are buried beneath the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica. I was privileged some years ago to tour the catacombs and stand within twenty feet or so of the grave; archaeological evidence supports the claim that it is his.

Over the centuries since, popes have included laymen and deacons, along with many bishops. In fact, any unmarried, male, baptized Catholic is canonically eligible.

However, the last non-cardinal to be elected pope was Pope Urban VI in 1378. Since his time, only cardinals have been elevated to the papacy.

How does the process work?

Only cardinals under the age of eighty are eligible to vote; they are known as cardinal electors. At 4:30 this afternoon, Vatican time, the 133 electors will gather and process to the Sistine Chapel. They will take an oath of absolute secrecy, then the doors will be sealed.

They vote through secret ballots reading Eligo in summum pontificem, “I elect as supreme pontiff,” followed by a name. The cardinals then approach the three scrutineers (cardinals chosen by a random drawing from the electors) in front of Michelangelo’s Last Judgment fresco. They fold their ballots twice and drop them in an urn. The scrutineers tally them and announce the results to all the cardinals. The ballots are then burned.

One round of voting will occur today. If a candidate does not receive two-thirds of the votes, voting will continue up to four times a day, twice in the morning and twice in the evening, until a candidate receives the necessary votes. (The 2005 and 2013 conclaves each lasted two days.) The public will be notified of each vote through the black and white smoke signals.

Once the conclave elects a pope, the dean of the College of Cardinals will ask him if he accepts the title. If he does, he will then select his papal name, a practice that began in AD 533 when a priest named Mercurius was elected pope. Because he was named after a pagan Roman god, he selected a new name after a previous pope. Since then, most popes have chosen a new name, usually connected to a previous pope or figure in church history they wish to emulate.

The new pope will then be led to the “Room of Tears” in the Sistine Chapel (named for the overwhelming emotion past pontiffs have experienced). There, he will dress in white robes and receive a new pectoral cross and white zucchetto (head cap). The cardinals will greet the new pope and pledge their obedience to him.

He will then walk out to the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. The senior-most cardinal deacon will announce to the crowd assembled below, Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habermus Papam (“I announce to you a great joy: We have a pope”) and introduce the church’s new leader by the title he has selected. The new pope will then deliver a blessing to the crowd.

Why is the conclave relevant to us all?

For those of us of who are not Catholics, all of this may be interesting but seem less than relevant. However, as the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics, the pope is the most influential Christian leader in the world, with cultural significance far outside the church. Pope St. John Paul II, for example, helped end the Cold War and advance human rights around the globe.

However, we have an even more fundamental reason to pray for the conclave as it begins.

Jude wrote his canonical letter “to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (v. 3). He did so to counter those who “pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ” (v. 4).

You and I face such times today. Churches and entire denominations are endorsing abortion, same-sex marriage, LGBTQ ideology, and euthanasia. Many dismiss biblical authority as outdated and even dangerous. While I disagree with the Roman Catholic Church on many topics, I am deeply grateful for its courageous commitment to the sanctity of life and marriage and its steadfast ministry to the impoverished and others in need.

I have spoken on several panels over the years alongside clergy from various denominations. Almost without fail, it was the Catholic priest more than anyone else who agreed with my position on biblical truth, Jesus’ bodily resurrection, the necessity of faith in Christ, and the relevance of biblical morality today. As a medical ethicist, I can testify that Catholic healthcare systems are some of the finest in our country and among the most aligned with biblical morality.

So, I am praying for the next pope to be a courageous and stalwart defender of biblical truth in the face of encroaching secularism and a voice for Christian unity and global mission. And I am recommitting myself to “contend for the faith” in my own sphere of influence by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.

Will you join me today?

Quote for the day:

“The most beautiful and stirring adventure that can happen to you is the personal meeting with Jesus, who is the only one who gives real meaning to our lives.” —Pope St. John Paul II

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