text: Pope Francis is being true to his stated mission, patterned upon the life of the great saint whom he chose to model, Saint Francis of Assisi.  St. Francis didn't spend time splitting hairs on legalisms, he instead sought to demonstrate his love of Jesus through charity and self-sacrifice.  He followed the true spirit of the law, and therefore didn't need to attend to the letter of it.  If there is anything the Catholic Church doesn't need more of, its legalistic thinking and endless definitions.