Might be it's that whole Matthew 10 :34-39 thingy.

Schlepping around various sites for news & views of our new Pontiff has confirmed a hunch that he has a potential to get more than one groups' panties in a twist.

On the liberal side: He's a strong supporter of Church teaching regarding abortion and euthanasia. He's been recorded as stating public figures who speak openly against Church teaching should refrain from receiving the Eucharist. He's rebuked advocates of liberation theology. Not a big fan of the homosexual life style either.

On the conservative side: He strongly advocates greater care for the poor of society. Supposedly he's been filmed participating in charismatic Masses. He's been on good terms with the Jewish faction of Argentina. His name is taken in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, not St. Francis Xavier. He's a (gasp) Jesuit and the implementation of Summorum Pontificum in his diocese has supposedly been minimal.

Plenty of material to hack off all parties.He hasn't even begun his duties as Pope yet, wait'll we see what happens then!

As I opined to the wife this evening, ""...being Christlike can alienate a lot of folks. Remember that when He was nailed to the cross there were only three followers there for Him and one was His mother."

This was the same guy who a few weeks before that was touted as the next king of Israel. Yep, really ticked off folks big time with all those teachings and admonitions. Maybe we're going to see more of that from the present Vicar on Earth.