>>Jesus saved his most savage criticism for those who should have known better.<<
Yes; and that savage criticism was of the Jews. What criticism of Jews has Pope Francis expressed?
Uh, Jesus was a Jew and he criticized Jews for not really living their faith. Pope Francis is a Catholic and he is criticizing Catholics.
Jesus' most vociferous condemnations were aimed at the Jewish religious leaders rather than all Jews and they certainly SHOULD have known better. Jesus called them, "the blind leading the blind". Religious leaders are sometimes put on pedestals and looked up to, with everything they say, expecting their "flock" to listen and obey and to never question.
I don't have a dog in this show WRT the new Pope, but I think he is hitting some people in places they aren't used to being hit - especially not by their own top dog - and, like Melsec said, those that NEED to hear it should. Of course, it doesn't hurt any of us to examine our own motives and attitudes and the person we represent when we identify as Christians.
Dear me my friend he is being relevant to today and with some of the things he is finding in the Church - Jesus got stuck in to the Jews because they were the ones who had been chosen to carry the message but had chosen religious observances and rites over knowing the truth and being servants to others - now it is the church who is supposed to be carrying the message of salvation to the world but we would rather argue about religious things than follow Our Lord!