Looking at Pope Francis

In a balanced way is not easy.  On one hand you have those who have reduced the man to spawn of Satan, Second Class.  On the other you have those never said he was perfect...now stop saying he does anything wrong and call him Awesome!   Into the usual chorus of noise, Fr. Longenecker brings a sane and honest opinion.  Pope Francis is a great guy, but it takes more than that to be a great pope.  His 'off the cuff, say and do whatever, no rules just awesome' style might well be setting up his papacy for a fall.  You can't keep saying things that need reinterpreted and explained over and over again before the world will begin to yawn and turn away from anything you say.  Fair enough.  Whether Pope Francis's papacy is a revolutionary step in a new direction or simply an excuse for a great portion of the world to wash its hands of the whole 'Catholic matters' thing remains to be seen.  Right now, I'm inclined to follow the idea that to be a great pope, Pope Francis may need to stop working so hard at being a great and awesome 21st century man.