"Accopaniment?" No, you didn't get it right.

I take exception to the notion that Pope Francis is "very popular with the world." Yes, he has a certain popular appeal, but as it was with John Paul II, it's based more on personality than the substance of what he says and teaches. The world has no more use for his message of solidarity with the poor than it did for John Paul's teachings about the excesses of socialism and capitalism.

In point of fact, Francis strongly and consistently preaches "a challenging personal message of conversion." Some people just don't like that message because it calls to questions their preconceptions about such things as clericalism, triumphalism and mercy.

Most of us are in favor of conversion when others need it. But when it comes to what needs conversion within ourselves, not so much. Francis is no more and no less challenging that any previous pope. He's just focusing his challenges in a different direction and that rankles some.