[ebb tide]

The Catholic Church should not seek respect from the secular world.

"18) If the world hate you, know ye, that it hath hated me before you. 19) If you had been of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you". John 15

I think Pope Francis believes otherwise.

[txnativegop]

I agree with you, the Church should not care, but it does, count on that.
For good or ill (and separate from the spiritual realm), the Church is a secular entity seeking power.