He didn't wear the red cape. That was the first sign. In March 2013, when Jorge Mario Bergoglio stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica as the newly elected Pope Francis, he ditched the traditional ermine-trimmed mozzetta. It was a tiny fashion choice that sent a massive shockwave through the Roman Curia.
For some, it was a breath of fresh air. For others? It was the beginning of a long, stressful decade.
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When we ask why is pope francis controversial, we aren't just talking about one or two spicy headlines. We’re talking about a man who has systematically poked at the "old guard" of the Catholic Church for over twelve years. He lives in a guesthouse instead of the fancy papal apartments. He drives a Ford Focus. He washes the feet of prisoners.
Honestly, he’s a walking contradiction. He’s the "People’s Pope" who some cardinals have called a "dictator." He’s a champion of the marginalized who still says a firm "no" to women priests. To understand the friction, you have to look at the specific moments where his "mercy-first" approach slammed head-on into centuries of rigid tradition.
The "Who Am I to Judge?" Moment
If there’s a ground zero for the controversy, it’s a plane ride back from Brazil in 2013. A reporter asked him about gay priests. Francis didn't quote canon law or fire off a condemnation. He said, "If a person is gay and seeks out the Lord and is willing, who am I to judge?"
That sentence changed everything. It didn't actually change Catholic doctrine—homosexual acts are still considered "intrinsically disordered" in the Catechism—but the tone shifted.
For conservative Catholics, especially in the United States, this was a disaster. They felt he was creating "doctrinal ambiguity." Basically, by not being "tough" on the rules, they felt he was giving a green light to sin.
Then came Fiducia Supplicans in late 2023. This was the document that allowed priests to give "spontaneous, non-liturgical" blessings to same-sex couples. The Vatican was very careful to say this wasn't marriage. They said it's just a blessing for people asking for God's help. But the backlash was fierce. Entire groups of bishops in Africa flat-out refused to implement it. They called it a "cultural colonization" by the West.
The Battle Over the Latin Mass
You might think, "Who cares what language the Mass is in?" Well, in the Catholic world, that’s a "fighting words" topic.
Pope Benedict XVI, Francis's predecessor, had made it much easier for priests to celebrate the "Traditional Latin Mass" (the one where the priest faces away from the people and speaks Latin). For a certain segment of the Church, this Mass is the peak of holiness. It represents stability and tradition.
In 2021, Francis basically dropped a bomb on that community with a document called Traditionis Custodes. He severely restricted the Latin Mass, saying it was being used by people to reject the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.
- The Intent: Francis wanted to unify the Church under one rite.
- The Result: He ended up alienating some of the most devout (and youngest) Catholics who find beauty in the old ways.
- The Fallout: Critics began calling him "autocratic" and "vindictive." They felt he was punishing people who just wanted to pray the way their grandparents did.
Economics, Climate, and "Communist" Accusations
Francis isn't just controversial for what he says inside the church. He’s been a massive thorn in the side of global political leaders.
In his encyclical Laudato si’, he didn't just say "planting trees is good." He attacked "unbridled capitalism" and called the earth an "immense pile of filth." He linked environmental destruction directly to the exploitation of the poor.
To many conservative politicians, especially in the West, this sounded like Marxism. He’s been called the "Red Pope" more times than he can count. He responds to this by saying that caring for the poor isn't communism—it’s the Gospel. But when he made a deal with the Chinese government over the appointment of bishops, even some of his supporters winced. They felt he was selling out the "underground" Church in China to play nice with a communist regime.
The Paradox of Reform
Here’s the thing that’s kinda wild: Francis is also criticized by liberals.
Wait, what?
Yeah, because for all his talk about inclusion, he hasn't actually changed much of the "hard" law.
- Women’s Ordination: He has repeatedly said "No" to women priests. Even the idea of women deacons (a lower level of clergy) has been met with study after study but no real action.
- Clerical Abuse: While he’s implemented new laws for accountability (like Vos estis lux mundi), critics say he hasn't done enough to punish bishops who covered up abuse. The case of Father Marko Rupnik—a famous artist accused of abusing several nuns—has been a PR nightmare for Francis because the Vatican's response was seen as slow and protective.
- Governance: He talks about "synodality" (listening to everyone), but he often rules by motu proprio (personal decrees). He’s fired bishops he didn't like, such as Bishop Joseph Strickland in Texas, which further fueled the "dictator" narrative.
Why It Still Matters
The controversy exists because Francis is trying to do something almost impossible: pivot a 2,000-year-old institution toward the "peripheries" without breaking the foundation.
He wants a "field hospital" Church that heals wounds, not a "museum" Church that preserves artifacts. But in a polarized world, people don't want a field hospital; they want a fortress. Conservatives want the fortress to keep the world out. Liberals want to tear the walls down and build a park. Francis is standing in the middle, getting hit by rocks from both sides.
As we move through 2026, the legacy of Francis is being debated more than ever. His health has been a concern, and the "Vatican watchers" are already looking toward the next conclave. But whether you love him or think he’s a disaster, you can’t deny that he’s made the Papacy relevant to people who haven't thought about the Pope in decades.
How to Navigate the Noise
If you’re trying to keep up with the latest on why this papacy is so divisive, here’s how to separate the signal from the noise:
- Read the Source: Don't trust a tweet about a "scandalous" quote. The Vatican website posts every single thing he says. Half the time, the "controversy" is just a bad translation or a snippet taken out of context.
- Watch the Geography: Most of the loud opposition to Francis comes from North America and Europe. In the "Global South" (Africa, Asia, Latin America), he is often immensely popular because he speaks their language on poverty and migration.
- Follow the Money: Some of the biggest critics of Francis are funded by wealthy donors who don't like his critiques of the global economic system.
The Catholic Church has always had drama. From Peter and Paul arguing in Antioch to the Borgias in the Renaissance, conflict is in the DNA. Pope Francis is just the latest chapter in a very long, very complicated story about what it means to follow ancient traditions in a modern world.
To get a clearer picture of the current state of the Church, look into the 2024 Synthesis Report from the Synod on Synodality. It’s a dense read, but it’s the best "state of the union" for how the Church is trying to handle these internal wars without splitting in two. It covers everything from the role of women to how the Church deals with digital culture, and it’s the actual roadmap Francis is using right now.