But, in characteristic form, he added: "What liberals forget in their present crowing is that even as Francis makes himself — and the church — more popular by projecting (a) compassionate image, he will simultaneously make it harder for them to criticize him when he reaffirms the doctrinal points they want him to overturn."
Not sure what to make of the new Pope's slightly transgressive acts of humble piety. Is he sucking up to liberal critics or is he playing a deeper game? Personally, I hope he has a Machiavellian streak as the traditionalist commenter quoted above seems to assert. Or, even better, I hope this is sincere at the deepest level and that he holds traditional understandings of Church doctrine with equal sincerity, to the chagrin of his current liberal cheerleaders.