Everyone sucks at their job sometimes, even the Pope.

Catholic Reflector Chronicle/Vol. 2, Issue 14/April 7, 2025

Pope Francis is the 266th Bishop of Rome. 266th in a long line of sinners who have occupied the infallible Chair of Peter, the keeper of the keys to the Kingdom. Christ is the Head of the Church, the Bishop of Rome is the Vicar of Christ. Some have been Saints, some have been tyrants, some have been forgettable, but they have all held the office, and for that we should all be thankful.

But D.M., why should I be thankful for a bunch of guys who have made so many mistakes?

Because friend, each and every one of these men have occupied the Chair of Peter by God’s Divine Will and Providence. You should also be thankful that you were not one of them. It’s not an easy job, especially in modern times. Every Bishop of Rome was there only because God wanted him there, and had a reason for it. God does not make mistakes, even when Popes do.

“Pope” is actually a nickname. Pope comes from the Latin Papa, meaning “father,” once given to all respected clergy members. Over time, the title grew more and more exclusive until it was reserved for the Bishop of Rome. Personally, I prefer Bishop of Rome.

Everyone, no matter how educated or powerful, has an off day. Yes, even the Pope. You see, Catholics do not believe that the Pope is impeccable. For example, if he says that the St. Louis Cardinals are the best baseball team ever, well, he’s obviously wrong. What we do believe is that the Pope is infallible, but only when he is speaking ex cathedra (meaning from the chair). And a Pope has not done so since 1950.

He may wear the white cassock, speak to millions, and carry 2,000 years of tradition on his shoulders, but he’s still human. And being human means sometimes, well, you mess up. My goal here is not to bash the Pope, although sometimes I want to. I still adhere to the authority of the office, even when I disagree with the man holding it. But no man, but for Jesus Christ, is perfect. Our world expects perfection, but our world is not going to get it from humanity.

Even saints had their rough patches. St. Peter denied Christ three times before becoming the Rock of the Church. Satan wanted to sift the apostles like wheat, remember? But who did Jesus pray for? Peter! St. Teresa of Ávila spent years feeling like her prayers were going nowhere. St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta had a crisis of faith after witnessing so much despair. Holiness and success don’t mean flawless execution; they mean persistence through the mess.

Think of your own lives. Your email typo, your botched presentation, your day when nothing seems to go right—it’s not proof you’re bad at what you do. It’s proof you’re doing it. Success is built on a mountain of errors, awkward moments, and wrong turns. Now imagine the whole world is watching, and in real time. Imagine every move that you make is analyzed, scrutinized and criticized. Every side comment and hasty remark taken as doctrine? That must be miserable.

But you do things well too. Or, at least I hope so. So in charity, let’s go over some things that Pope Francis does that most people can admire. (yes, there are a few things he does right.)

For one, he lives pretty simply. From the beginning of his papacy, Pope Francis chose to forgo the traditional luxurious Papal Apartments in favor of a modest guesthouse room in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta. He cooks for himself when is able, drove a Ford Focus, and wears simpler vestments. This down-to-earth lifestyle resonated with people uncomfortable with what they perceived as pomp and pageantry. I like some of that pomp, and tradition, but at the end of the day, the Bishop of Rome is not a king, he is a caretaker. His lifestyle in and of itself is a message.

He focuses on Mercy. His famous “Who am I to judge?” comment about gay people trying to live faithfully is one of the most quoted lines of his papacy. Of course, this line was taken out of context, misquoted and was a soundbite of a larger conversation. It was said on an airplane, and was not well-thought out. Even though Church teaching on homosexuality hasn’t changed, his tone has been more pastoral than punitive. Where I think he could be more clear on would be calling for repentance of this and other sinful behavior, after all, we all sin. And outward actions can be judged, and determined to be bad. Here’s what he actually said, “If someone is gay and is searching for the Lord and has good will, then who am I to judge him? The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this in a beautiful way, saying … wait a moment, how does it say it … it says: “no one should marginalize these people for this, they must be integrated into society”. Not a perfect statement, but a far cry from the media saying “The pope says it’s ok to be gay.”

He champions the environment. His 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ was enlightening, you should read it sometime. It wasn’t just about climate change; it was about caring for the poor, creation, and future generations. Genesis 2:15 says, “¹⁵ The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.^” We are called to be good stewards, and Pope Francis has called us out on it. This document was a way for the Church to step into the global conversation in a meaningful way, and furthered earlier moves by Pope St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict. Politically conservative folks saw it as an attack. I am pretty conservative, but I think this is an issue that needs to be addressed.

He calls people (literally). Pope Francis is known for personally calling people who write to him. Imagine writing to the Pope and getting a call back! No press team, no PR spin—just “Hello, this is Pope Francis.” It’s an unexpected human gesture that resonates deeply. Our Bishops have become too far removed from the flock, and these gestures speak volumes.

He also shows up for people in pain. Francis has visited war zones, refugee camps, prisons, and places hit hard by poverty or violence. He doesn’t just send prayers—he brings his presence. That willingness to go where people are suffering speaks volumes. For the longest time, no one ever saw the Pope. Pope St. John Paul II changed that, and Pope Francis has largely continued it.

Ok, so now let’s get to what everyone really wants to read. Where does Pope Francis suck at his job? Well, this is somewhat of an opinion piece, so here it goes:

He’s Not Super Clear—On Purpose

Pope Francis has this habit of speaking in broad, poetic, or ambiguous terms, especially in interviews or off-the-cuff remarks. He’ll drop something like “the Church must be open to change” and then just… not clarify. This drives people nuts—especially theologians, bishops, and laity trying to figure out what exactly he means (and what it means for doctrine). This ambiguity is dangerous. In a time when the Church needs clarity, Pope Francis rarely offers it. Journalists take everything he says and distort it, blow it out of proportion or flat out lie about it.

And Synodality? What in the heck is Synodality anyway?. No one can tell us. But from what I’ve seen, it’s bad. I don’t want the Church to be a democracy. It is a Kingdom. Everyone doesn’t get a say. Our bishop recently made a decision on prohibiting certain songs at Mass that were doctrinally problematic. He didn’t ask us, he just did it, as was within his authority. Weeks later, he walked it back, citing “synodality.” Gross. Someone, somewhere, complained, and let our bishop know it. If that's synodality, Pope Francis can keep it.

He’s Ticked Off Traditionalists

Like, really ticked off Traditionalists. With moves like restricting the Latin Mass (Traditionis Custodes, 2021) and criticizing rigid liturgical preferences, Francis has alienated more traditional Catholics who feel he’s dismissive of their spiritual and liturgical needs. To them, he’s shutting the door on something sacred. What may have been a move to make the Church more united, has only caused further division. And it’s going the wrong way. Traditional Catholicism is the fastest growing part of the Church, especially among young people, and instead of embracing it, Pope Francis seems to hang on to the protestantized liturgical garbage ushered in Post-Vatican II.

He Doesn’t Always Play Nice with Bishops

Francis has openly criticized bishops and clergy for being too “doctrinal” or too obsessed with rules. He’s pushed for more decentralization and synodality, but also—ironically—makes sweeping executive decisions. Some bishops feel micromanaged and blindsided. Others have flat out been removed if they disagree with him. He seems to forget that the magisterium is more than just himself.

He’s Too Political for Some, Not Political Enough for Others

When he talks about climate change, capitalism, immigration, or indigenous rights, conservative critics say he’s “woke” or overstepping his role.

When he doesn’t explicitly condemn certain regimes, or stays neutral in global conflicts (like in the case of Ukraine and Russia), progressive voices say he’s being cowardly or diplomatic to a fault.

He’s Slow on Abuse Reform.

He’s not the only one either. This has been systemic. While Francis has taken steps to address abuse in the Church, some people feel he’s been too slow, too cautious, or too willing to trust bishops who shouldn’t be trusted. His early defense of Chilean Bishop Barros, for example, caused major outrage—he later apologized, but the damage was done. He’s elevated bishops who should have been cast out on their ears, or better yet, thrown in a pit. Cardinal McElroy is a disgrace.

Personally, I don’t know why any member of the clergy who has known about (and done nothing), participated in covering up abuse or has turned a blind eye on the whole thing hasn’t been thrown out and/or prosecuted. And those that committed abuse? As they say in Texas, get a rope and find a tall oak tree.

He Challenges Everyone’s Comfort Zone

This might be the most universal reason people get frustrated with Pope Francis:
He challenges everybody. He’ll praise capitalism one day and critique it the next. He’ll emphasize Church tradition but then call for radical change. You can’t put him in a box. And in a polarized world, that drives everyone a little nuts. Actually, sometimes I like this about him.

Basically, Francis is too progressive for traditionalists and too cautious for the progressives. Maybe, just maybe, this is exactly where God wants him to be. Pope Francis, in my opinion, has damaged the Church to a certain degree. But it may be what leads to a revitalization of the Church, and a return to what Jesus intended it to be.

At the end of the day, Pope Francis is still pro-life. He hasn’t permitted gay marriage (and has no authority to do so), he hasn’t allowed women to be priests (and has no authority to do so); he has not changed church teachings. He has not declared anything infallible. But he has said some things that sure sound heretical (all religions are paths to God…what???) My fear is that he has opened the door for his successor to usher in changes that he is preparing the way for. And if that is what he is doing, then he truly does suck at his job.

Pray for Pope Francis.

God Bless.

Scripture to read and consider:

Colossians 3:23: ²³ Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters;

Ephesians 4:28: ²⁸ Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.

Proverbs 12:11: ¹¹ Those who till their land will have plenty of food,
but those who follow worthless pursuits have no sense.

Proverbs 14:23: ²³ In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.

Issue Quote(s):

St. Justin Martyr (ca. 165 A.D.)

“I Apologia 10:2 We have been taught, are convinced, and do believe that He (God) approves only of those who imitate His inherent virtues, namely temperance, justice, love of man, and any other virtue proper to God who is called by no given name. We have also been instructed that God, in the beginning, created in His goodness everything out of shapeless matter for the sake of men. And if men by their actions prove themselves worthy of His plan, they shall, we are told, be fond worthy to make their abode with Him and to reign with Him, free of all corruption and pain.”

St. John Chrysostom (344-407 A.D.)

Commentary on St. John the Apostle & Evangelist, Homily 3

“A servant performs all he does for the pleasure of his master and seeks for nothing more than his approving glance; he does not draw the eyes of others to his wok, even if these others are great, but regards one thing only; how the master regards his work. Is it not strange, then, that we who have such a Master, seek for another audience, who by their gazing can give us no aid, but instead, harm us and rob of merit all our toil?”

St. Augustine (354-430 A.D.)

The Work of Monks Chapter 13

“This much I know, that he was neither a thief nor a robber, neither a charioteer nor a hunter, neither an actor nor a gambler, but that innocently and honorably he performed such labors as are suitable for human occupation, such as the work of carpenters, builders, shoemakers, farmers and similar trades... Respectability does not belittle what is scorned by those who desire to be called honorable but do not wish to be so. Hence the Apostle (Paul) would not refuse to perform any rustic labor or to engage in any workman’s craft.”

The Work of Monks, Chapter 13

“Whatever work men perform without guilt and trickery is good.”

Upcoming Topics:

April 14: Are you Zestfully clean? Practicing Spiritual Hygiene.

April 21: The Catholic Mass is the Bible.

April 28: The Other 3:15

May 5: It’s a wild time to be a Catholic.

May 12: Instead of sinning, do this instead…

May 19: A Shepherd fights wolves, he doesn’t pet them.

May 26: Lord, deliver me from your disciples…

Disclaimer from the Editor: I have done just about everything wrong that a Catholic can do. I was born a Catholic, and by the Grace of God, managed to remain one. I hope these writings educate and edify you. I will make mistakes, and I am likely to offend a few folks along the way. That is not my intention. If you wish to discuss anything written or expressed in this newsletter, please reach out to the email address below. Questions, comments and rude remarks are welcome, one and all. And remember, if you are a practicing Catholic, practice harder!

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