When I am not closely attached to an issue, I can just about argue either side, and easily see perspectives on any position.

However, there are some issues that are "closer to my heart" that cloud this broader perspective. These fall in the "danger zone" where I am more likely to loose my cool and tolerance to extreme views or approaches. I suspect we are all like that. When it happens to me I normally see myself as "spinning my wheels" and just losing traction on progressing on issues.

As to the new pope, I choose to be positive and not to rush to judgement (but, I may add that, because of the lessons of history, I am cautious about my level of enthusiasm) It is a minimum I would expect if I took on a new job and a big task. Because of the nature of the post, there are many media folks seeking out the warts,and many eager ears waiting to learn of of them.

Because he is human, and has been around for awhile, I expect and am tolerant to some warts. Just because the church organization has been accused of questionable practices, it does not mean that he has been an active part of that.

Additionally, I believe we have to be understanding that it is complex to operate under an extremely cruel dictatorship. One would have to be there to better understand the challenges. There are different views of the value of serving the needs of a larger number of people over the longer term, versus sacrificing this to help a few persons in pressing need. There is also the issues involved with the separation of church from governments, the good ones and the bad.

I suspect if we were to closely examined our past "heros" who have accomplished good works with the same rigor as today, there would be many warts showing. Today, leaders are under greater public scrutiny than ever before, and citizens are increaingly interested in paying more attention to the warts than the potential.(maybe the media and technologuy and social media plays a part in that, or, maybe it is just changes in society) But, IMO, even people who made mistakes in the past, and are not "perfect humans" (and will also make mistakes in the future) can accomplish good things.