But what about Christ's commandments? Not suggestions but commandments. When does 
Jesus begin being God in your mind and where is he simply a really cool social worker. He calls his disciples to abandon family and suffer for him, to deny oneself for the sake of him and others. 

The 2000 years prior to Francis did not come out of the blue, the massive charity efforts of the Church providing a 4th of the entire worlds healthcare and on of the largest charities, all this before Francis. We have had spiritual manuals on how to have a personal relationship with Christ since the 3rd century!

The caricature of the Church as some apathetic monolithic organization is grossly dishonest, usually found in protestant circles.