section_path: Theological emphases and teachings
section_name: Theological emphases and teachings
paragraph_text: Theological emphases and teachings
  
  In Evangelii gaudium, Francis revealed what would be the emphases of his pontificate: a missionary impulse among all Catholics, sharing the faith more actively, avoiding worldliness by more visibly living the gospel of God's mercy, and helping the poor and working for social justice.
  
  Since 2016, criticism against Francis by theological conservatives had intensified. One commentator had described the conservative resistance against Francis as "unique in its visibility" in recent church history. Some have explained the level of disagreement as due to his going beyond theoretical principles to pastoral discernment.