If I turn on certain "so called" news channels, sadly I know that, depending on which one it is, I will hear all positive or all negative things about certain politicians and elected officials. Rarely, if ever, do they say anything positive about anything good "their nemisis" has done. I think the same kind of positive or negative thoughts and feelings about certain public figures can be, and are expressed in certain publications and by people who are on social media. We clearly see this when it comes to Pope Francis, the Vicar of Christ on earth. I receive forwarded e-mails from a few parishioners of publications which seem to be looking for and finding fault with everything our pope says or does. Like with anyone, some or much of what he says is taken out of context and assumptions and conclusions are reached that, at the least, are unfair to our pope and some are simply not true. I could bring up a few instances, but I choose not to do so here. I would rather like to caution everyone about taking positions on certain subjects and then getting defensive or even attacking the pope for saying things that don't seem to agree with or goes against those positions. We are called to be formed daily and throughout our lives in "Gospel" ways of thinking and acting. I truly can say that Pope Francis, with his long priesthood and as a holy and scholarly man, has shown his humility and faithfulness to preaching and teaching the ways of God that are truly meant for all of us to take to heart. I believe all of us should start by accessing sources (like Vatican News) that truly portrays what our pope is saying an doing. We should read all the things that the pope says or writes on our own and not through the lens and sometimes distortions which claim that the pope is not being true to the Tradition and/or to the ways and teachings of Jesus Christ. If what he says or writes is too long and/or difficult to understand, then find priests, bishops, or laypeople who can help us appreciate what comes from the pope without  prejudice against him. Not only with Catholics and the Pope, but in other areas, like politics, there has been a movement away from respect for authority and instead and immediate distrust and criticism toward or about that authority which I believe has many more bad. When, however, he speaks in his teaching role, especially when it come to major writings like encyclicals, we are called as Catholic to take what he says seriously and with confidence that God is working through the Vicar of Christ in many of the same ways he worked through Jesus Christ. Blessings will surely come to those of us who do!