Everyone, in theory, ought to be willing to defend other people insofar as the need and deserve defence—it is part of loving one’s neighbour. Most people do some good things (naturally speaking, without cooperating with grace at God’s initiative no one can do anything that is worth speaking about in eternity).
It is part of at least giving people a reward on earth to which they are entitled.
You are not defending everything the Pope does, but not even the strictest Catholic is obliged to do that.
Nor is one obliged to defend everything that greenies say.
But both greenies and the Pope do at least occasionally find an acorn, or happen to be right twice a day.
So I salute you in defending Pope Francis.
If you believe that in defending Pope Francis you are not defending the Pope, I would note that you would find yourself in good(?) company on many Catholic Caucus threads. I am of the opinion that in defending Francis you are defending the Pope, but probably should not wade too heavily into the quasi-side vacantist debate at this point.
Oddly, from my faith perspective, that you do not hold that in defending Francis you do not believe you are defending the Pope, is something I am inclined to take into account. If you were fuming about how he is the anti-Christ I would be more inclined to continue to try to take him seriously.
Naa….there's enough Roman Catholic who are throwing ya'lls pope under the bus.....some even suggesting the position you noted in your last sentence.