For every opinion about Francis, or perception of him, there seems to be ample evidence to support a contrary viewpoint. ...
Francis did not have the clarity of the previous Popes, but he had a magnetic personality, and he even encouraged young Catholics to ‘make a mess’. The problem for interpreting Francis from the West is that most of us are accustomed to divisions on the left-right spectrum, or a liberal-conservative range of worldviews. Francis, however, was not located anywhere on either spectrum, but he came from a completely different perspective and worldview.
Francis was heavily influenced by Peronism, the political movement heralded by Juan Peron and which had been ironically influenced in its formation by elements of Catholic social teaching.
As a political ideology, Peronism regards praxis and personality as more important than principles. ..... [To read more, please see my article in The Spectator, at https://www.spectator.com.au/2025/05/understanding-pope-francis/
