By Catholic Apologist Dave Armstrong
[see also my book, Pope Francis Explained: Survey of Myths, Legends, and Catholic Defenses in Harmony with Tradition]
I wrote on 9-20-13:
For all of you out there worried about the pope. Relax; chill. All is well. We have a pope who says the unexpected: a lot like Jesus. And, like Jesus, those who don't get it and are outside looking in, will misunderstand, and those who are in the fold will grasp what is being said, in the context of historic Catholic teaching, if they look closely enough and don't get hoodwinked by silly media wishful thinking.
Those who are outside often hear only what they want to hear (God loves everyone, even sinners!!!) and not what they need to hear (stop sinning; stop this sin . . .).
I wrote in a letter to a friend:
It's the same old dumb misunderstandings: media misreports what the pope said; never understand what he means in context, and in context with past teachings. Don't fall into their trap! Pope Francis is a good Catholic; nothing to be alarmed about at all. The world wants Christians to renounce their teachings. We're the guys who have never done so. We keep the same moral teaching that the Church had from the beginning: no abortion, no divorce, no contraception, no same-sex "marriages," etc. Virtually no one else has done so! So the attack is against us to change traditional morality, and we will never do that.
1. Pope Francis' Notable Humility: Could it Possibly "De-Sacralize" the Papacy? (Dave Armstrong, Facebook, 3-14-13)
2. Nine things you need to know about Pope Francis's inaugural Mass (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 3-17-13)
3. Should We Be Concerned About Pope Francis's Inaugural Mass? (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 3-18-13)
4. Pope Francis on Homosexual Unions (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 3-20-13)
5. Behind the Campaign to Smear the Pope (Mary Anastasia O'Grady, Crisis / The Wall Street Journal, 3-22-13)
6. How Should We Understand Pope Francis Washing Women's Feet? (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 3-28-13)
7. Canon Lawyer Pete Vere on the Pope Francis Foot-Washing Controversy (Dave Armstrong's Facebook page, 3-30-13)
8. Radical Catholic Reactionary Super-Site Rorate Caeli's "Cherished Friend" and Featured Pope-Basher, Marcelo González, is a Holocaust Revisionist (Dave Armstrong, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, 4-8-13)
9. Pope Francis and lying to save life (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 5-15-13)
10. Did Pope Francis Preach Salvation by Works?? (Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Standing on My Head, 5-23-13)
11. Dreadful Misleading Headline of Catholic Online Pins Heresy on Pope (Brian Kelly, Catholicism.org, 5-23-13)
12. Did Pope Francis Say That Atheists Can Get to Heaven by Good Works? (Jimmy Akin, JimmyAkin.com, 5-24-13)
13. Did Pope Francis poke Protestants in the eye? (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 6-4-13)
14. Pope Francis and the Vatican "gay lobby"—10 things to know and share (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 6-12-13)
15. From the IOR to the gay lobby: Pope Francis tells all on flight from Rio to Rome (Andrea Tornielli, Vatican Insider, 7-29-13)
16. Seven things you need to know about what Pope Francis said about gays (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 7-29-13
17. Pope Francis and the Franciscan Friars (Michelle Arnold, Catholic Answers, 7-30-13)
18. Don’t Tell the Press: Pope Francis Is Using Them (Elizabeth Scalia, First Things, 7-30-13)
19. Misinterpreting Francis [Homosexuality] (Edward Pentin, National Catholic Register, 7-30-13)
20. Franciscans of the Immaculate decree worries traditionalists (Catholic News Agency, 7-30-13)
21. Pope Francis on Homosexuality: Take a Deep Breath (Scott P. Richert, About.com Catholicism, 7-30-13)
22. On the Pope’s Remarks about Homosexuality (Scott P. Richert, Crisis, 8-1-13)
23. What Did the Pope Really Say about Gays in the Priesthood? (Fr. Regis Scanlon, O.F.M. Cap., Crisis, 8-5-13)
24. Pope Francis Uses the Terminology of "Extreme Traditionalism" (Some Quibbles with Kevin Tierney's Arguments) (Dave Armstrong, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, 8-5-13)
25. Pope Francis Will Enliven the Benedict Legacy (Jeffrey Tucker, Crisis, 8-12-13)
26. What should we make of Pope Francis bowing when greeting people? (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 8-30-13)
27. Is Pope Francis about to eliminate celibacy? (9 things to know and share) (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 9-12-13)
28. What Pope Francis really said about atheists (Stephen Kokx, Catholic Vote, 9-13-13)
29. Did Pope Francis say atheists don’t need to believe in God to be saved? (9 things to know) (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 9-15-13)
30. Pope Francis Focuses on the Bigger Picture With New Interview (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 9-20-13)
31. Pope condemns abortion as product of 'throwaway culture' (Francis X. Rocca, Catholic News Service,
9-20-13)
32. Go Home New York Times, You’re Drunk (Steven D. Greydanus, National Catholic Register, 9-20-13)
33. Francis’ Interview and the Unexpected Unity of the NY Times and the Francis Haters (Mark Shea, Catholic and Enjoying It, 9-20-13)
34. Pope Francis Contradicts Himself! (Mark Shea, Catholic and Enjoying It, 9-20-13)
35. Francis Confounds the Associated Press (Elizabeth Scalia, The Anchoress, 9-20-13)
36. Francis and Benedict, Peter and John (Thomas L. McDonald, God and the Machine, 9-20-13)
37. The key to understanding Pope Francis: the 99 lost sheep (Phil Lawler, CatholicCulture.org, 9-20-13)
38. Pope Francis and His Critics (Scott P. Richert, Crisis, 9-23-13)
39. Pope Francis Has Not Diluted the Pro-Life Teachings of the Catholic Church (Fr. Frank Pavone, LifeNews.com, 9-23-13)
40. The Mission of Pope Francis, S. J. (Michelle Arnold, Catholic Answers, 9-23-13)
41. Report: Pope Excommunicates Priest for Supporting Gay Marriage, Female Priest (Dr. Susan Berry, Breitbart, 9-24-13)
42. The Papal Interview: A Survey of Reactions (Joseph Meaney, Crisis, 9-25-13)
43. Pope Francis and ‘The Interview’ (Abp. Charles Chaput, CatholicPhilly.com, 9-25-13)
44. Pope Francis: Every Unborn Child Has the Lord's Face (Andrew M. Greenwell, Esq., Catholic Online, 9-26-13)
45. A Big Heart Open to God: The exclusive [complete] interview with Pope Francis (Antonio Spadaro, S. J., America, 9-30-13)
46. Did Pope Francis just say that evangelization is “nonsense”? 8 things to know and share (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 10-1-13)
47. The Pope, Abortion, Mercy and Context (Fr. Frank Pavone, National Catholic Register, 10-1-13)
48. Is Pope Francis about to “rip up” the Vatican constitution? 12 things to know and share (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 10-2-13)
49. The Pope’s Pro-Life Declaration “in Context” (Dr. William Oddie, Crisis, 10-3-13)
50. Random Thoughts on Rush Limbaugh's Comments on the Pope's Alleged "Marxism" (Dave Armstrong, Facebook, 5 Dec. 2013)
51. Vatican: Scalfari Interview Misses Details, Conflates Facts (Edward Pentin, National Catholic Register, 10-5-13)
52. Atheist interviewer didn’t take notes, record interview with Pope Francis: Vatican spokesman (John-Henry Westen, LifeSiteNews.com, 10-7-13)
53. Pope Francis’s new letter to homosexual Catholics (9 things to know and share) (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 10-11-13)
54. Is Pope Francis going to let the divorced and remarried receive Communion? (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 10-22-13)
55. Why the media keep getting Pope Francis all wrong (Phil Lawler, Catholic Culture, 11-7-13)
56. Papal Style: Caring for Souls while Leaving Doctrinal Exposition to Others (Dr. William Oddie , Crisis, 11-19-13)
57. Pope Francis Derangement Syndrome Vol. III. Being All About the Legislators of Evil in Illinois (Scott Eric Alt, 11-20-13)
58. Pope's words in interview may not have been his own, Scalfari says (Andrea Gagliarducci, Catholic News Agency, 11-21-13)
59. Only Fools RUSH in Where Angels Fear to Tread: Limbaugh Excoriates Pope Francis Unfairly (Fr. John Trigilio, 11-30-13)
60. Would Someone Just Shut That Pope Up? (Patrick J. Deneen, The American Conservative, 12-5-13; mostly about economics)
61. The Thing That Used to Be Conservatism Puts Out a Hit on Francis (Mark Shea, National Catholic Register, 12-5-13)
62. The Controversy Over Evangelii Gaudium (Rachel Lu, Crisis Magazine, 12-9-13)
63. Pope Francis addresses Marxism charges, women cardinals in La Stampa interview (Catherine Harmon, The Catholic World Report, 12-15-13)
64. Pope Francis takes on allegations and rumors about his papacy: 9 things to know and share (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 12-15-13)
65. Pope Benedict Defends Francis on Markets and Ethics (Andrew M. Haines, 12-16-13, Ethika Politika)
66. Pope Francis on the “parable” of the loaves and fishes: 11 things to know and share (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 1-1-14)
67. Don’t fall for this Pope Francis hoax: 5 things to know and share (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 1-2-14)
68. Dialogue: Has Pope Francis Changed the Constant Catholic Prohibition of Contraception? (Dave Armstrong, 1-2-14)
69. What did Pope Francis say about the children of homosexual couples? 8 things to know and share (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 1-4-14)
70. Does Francis Really Have a Marxism Problem? (David Byrne, Crisis Magazine, 1-10-14)
71. Did Pope Francis baptize a baby whose parents aren’t married? 12 things to know and share (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 1-12-14)
72. "Those who are willing to understand Pope Francis, can and will do so. Those who aren't willing, won't, and possibly can't as well." (Dave Armstrong, Facebook, 1-18-14)
73. Rolling Stoned on Pope Francis, Part I. In Which the Untalented Mr. Binelli Speaks Untruths With Acid Certitude (Scott Eric Alt, 1-30-14)
74. Rolling Stoned on Pope Francis, Part II. In Which the Untalented Mr. Binelli Waxes Doltish on the Humanity of Popes (Scott Eric Alt, 2-1-14)
75. Il Papa’s Not a Rollin’ Stone (Christopher Manion, Crisis Magazine, 2-3-14)
76. The War on Pope Francis (M. Anthony Mills, Real Clear Religion, 2-3-14) [economics issues]
77. Rolling Stoned on Pope Francis, Part III. In Which the Untalented Mr. Binelli is Introduced to Some Catholic Social Thought He Had Overlooked (Scott Eric Alt, 2-4-14)
78. Quotes from Pope Francis [great website that notes the massive distortions and spin taking place about the pope; added on 2-8-14]
79. Judge Not (Tim Staples, Catholic Answers, 2-14-14) [Same-sex couples and homosexuality]
80. Vatican’s Cardinal Burke: Media is ‘mocking’ the Pope by creating a liberal caricature (Hilary White, LifeSiteNews, 2-25-14)
81. Does Pope Francis Think that Jesus was Literally a Sinner in a Sense Beyond Bearing Our Sins on the Cross (Partaking / Entering Into Sin)? (Dave Armstrong, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, 2-27-14)
82. "The New Gnosticism": The Outrage of Checking Translations of Papal Homilies (+ Elliot Bougis' Claims that Pope Francis is Heretical / Modernist / Liberal, or Reasonable Facsimile Thereof (Dave Armstrong, Facebook, 2-28-14)
83. Did Pope Francis just diss apologists? 9 things to know and share (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 3-9-14)
84. Francis and Traditionalist Catholics (Alberto Carosa, The Catholic World Report, 3-12-14)
85. The Media’s Fictional Francis (John Paul Shimek, The Catholic World Report, 3-13-14)
86. Pope Francis’s First Year (George Weigel, National Review Online, 3-13-14)
87. Did Pope Francis tell a divorced and civilly remarried woman she could receive Holy Communion? (Jimmy Akin, National Catholic Register, 4-23-14)
88. Vatican responds to Francis’ call to Argentinian woman; more details emerge (Catherine Harmon, The Catholic World Report, 4-24-14)
89. Pope Francis: Zacchaeus and “legitimate redistribution” (Ed Morrissey, Hot Air, 5-9-14)
90. Breaking: Pope Francis is not an anarcho-capitalist (David Freddoso, Conservative Intelligence Briefing, 5-9-14)
91. Totally Missing the Pope Francis Story, Yet Again (Kathryn Jean Lopez , National Review Online, 5-9-14)
92. Reply to the Ridiculous Bum Rap that I (and Many Apologists) are "Ultramontanists" Who are Special Pleading and Defending the Pope No Matter What (as if his favorite color or ice cream were infallible, binding decrees) (Dave Armstrong, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, 5-12-14)
93. Muslim Prayers in the Vatican…Shock Horror?!!? (Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Standing On My Head, 6-7-14) [+ follow-up article]
94. Pope Francis on Sound Doctrine, Memory, and Adoration (Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, 7-10-14, Views from the Choir Loft)
95. Ten Things to Remember if Pope Francis Upsets You (Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Standing On My Head, 7-15-14)
96. Reply to a Critique of My Book, Pope Francis Explained, by Dr. Phil Blosser (Dave Armstrong, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, 8-24-14)
97. No scandal here: How the 20 couples married by Pope Francis were legit (Kevin Jones and Ann Schneible, Catholic News Agency, 9-15-14)
98. Sorry, But Media Coverage of Pope Francis is Papal Bull (Elizabeth Dias, Time, 10-29-14)
99. Is Pope Francis Duping Liberals on Marriage? (Paul Kengor, American Spectator, 11-21-14)
100. Pope Francis As Reformer, Evangelizer — And Doctrinal Conservative (National Public Radio; All Things Considered: review of The Great Reformer by Austin Ivereigh, 11-30-14)
101. What Hierarchy Really Means (By Eric Johnston, Crisis Magazine, 12-1-14)
102. The Pope's True Agenda (William Doino, Jr., First Things, 12-1-14)
103. No, Pope Francis Did Not Call the Koran a “Prophetic Book of Peace” (Thomas L. McDonald, God and the Machine, 12-5-14)
104. Pope Francis on Cardinal Burke (+ Discussion) (Dave Armstrong, Facebook, 12-8-14)
105. Sorry, Fido. Pope Francis did Not say our pets are going to heaven (David Gibson, Religion News Service, 12-12-14)
106. Exchange on Pope Francis and the Church (Dave Armstrong vs. Tony Jokin; Facebook, 12-17-14)
107. Documentation: Pope Francis is Orthodox, Pro-Tradition and Against Modernism (Dan Marcum, Catholic Answers Forum, 1-9-15)
108. Are We Called to be Hated by the World? Pope Francis and the Problem of Likeability (John Clark, Seton Magazine, 1-15-15)
109. The predictable provocations of the Pope of Rome ["Rabbits" controversy] (Deacon Scott Dodge, 1-19-15)
110. More Liberal Denial and Despair Over Pope Francis (Scott Eric Alt, 1-20-15)
111. Pope Francis and Catholic Rabbits–5 Points to Consider (Dr. Greg Popcak, Faith on the Couch, 1-20-15)
112. Don’t Pick Political Fights With Pope Francis (Rachel Lu, The Federalist, 1-20-15)
113. Feeling Devastated by What Pope Francis Says? Try These 3 Helpful Keys (Thomas Peters, Catholic Vote.org, 1-21-15)
114. Christ "Became the Sinner": Pope Francis and Bad Translators (Dave Armstrong, Seton Magazine, 1-21-15)
115. Catholics Reproducing Like "Rabbits": The Essential Silliness of the Clueless Perceptions of Pope Francis' Perfectly Catholic and Orthodox Remarks (Dave Armstrong, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, 1-21-15) [+ Facebook discussion]
116. Rick Santorum Should Read the Transcript of Pope Francis’s “Rabbits” Remark. So Should Everyone Else (Scott Eric Alt, 1-21-15)
117. Jeremiad About Catholics Behaving in "Dumb" Ways with Regard to the Words of Pope Francis (Dave Armstrong, Facebook, 1-22-15)
118. Debate About Pope Francis Supposedly Having "Foot-in-the-Mouth" Disease (Dave Armstrong, Facebook, 1-22-15)
119. On rabbits and number of offspring: What the Pope did and did not say (Vatican Insider, 1-22-15)
120. Pope Francis Shocks Liberals on Same-Sex “Marriage” (Paul Kengor, Crisis Magazine, 1-23-15)
121. Was Pope Francis Correct in Publicly Rebuking as "Irresponsible" a Woman Who Had Had Seven C-Sections? (Dave Armstrong, Biblical Evidence for Catholicism, 1-23-15) [+ Facebook discussion]
122. Critique of Anti-Catholic John Bugay's Attack on Pope Francis Regarding the "Rabbits" Controversy (Scott Eric Alt, 1-23-15)
123. Pope Francis surprised by misunderstanding of his words on family (Catholic News Agency, 1-24-15)
124. When Pope Francis rips ‘proselytism,’ who’s he talking about? He really may not be talking about, or to, Catholics at all (John L. Allen, Jr., Crux, 1-27-15)
125. Anti-Papal Malarkey and Damnable Schism. Or, Pope Francis Derangement Syndrome Vol. X. Maureen Mullarkey Edition. (Scott Eric Alt, 1-28-15)
126. Understanding the Apocalyptic Vision of Pope Francis: The Church at war with the world underlies all (Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Aleteia, 1-29-15)
127. Is the Left’s Honeymoon with Pope Francis Finally Over? (Paul Kengor, Crisis Magazine, 2-17-15)
128. VIP treatment for LGBT group at the Vatican? Not really (Andrea Gagliarducci, Catholic News Agency / EWTN News, 2-19-15)
129. Facebook Threads Regarding Whether Pope Francis is Being "Bashed" (Dave Armstrong + Part Two / Part III / 2-19-15 and 2-21-15)
130. "Why is Pope Francis so loved by the liberals?" (Dave Armstrong, Facebook, 2-21-15)
131. I’m Shocked, Shocked to Find That There is Orthodoxy Going On In This Papacy [Market Watch and Daily Beast] (Scott Eric Alt, 2-23-15)
132. Is Pope Francis' Papacy a New Front for the Left? (Kate O'Hare, Breitbart, 1-3-14)
133. A Counterblast to Rush Limbaugh on Evangelii Gaudium 54 (Scott Eric Alt, 12-3-13)
134. The game changer nobody has noticed [Pope Francis' closing remarks to the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops] (Joe Garcia, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, 10-21-14)
135. Here We Go Again or "Lousy English Translations, Pt. CCXVIII" (Joe Garcia, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, 11-26-13)
136. Pope Francis: An Agenda Behind his Back? (Andrea Gagliarducci, MondayVatican, 2-23-15)
[see also my book, Pope Francis Explained: Survey of Myths, Legends, and Catholic Defenses in Harmony with Tradition; especially the Introduction]
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Updated periodically with new relevant articles. Last update: 24 February 2015.