I've been getting, over recent weeks, various panicky messages...

...from Catholics who  describe themselves as Traditionalist  (often with a captital T) and who don't like the way Pope Francis talks. They seem to feel that they ought to feel all comfortable and gosh-this-is-absolutely-right about everything that a Pope says and does. And they get angry when they don't feel that way. They panic and worry and write a lot of complicated stuff. Some  get postively weird about it...

 Ordinary orthodox faithful Catholics don't feel this way.  It isn't the way ordinary faithful Catholics are. I like and admire a lot of what Papa Francis is doing and saying. But even if I didn't, I wouldn't panic about it. I remember reading a book about Pius IX - he's been beatified - and deciding that he was on the wrong foot on a couple of tactical issues, and not particularly aware of  damage done -  I don't think I would have been a great fan of his (though  the book enthused about him and apparently he was a perfectly jolly soul with people he knew and liked, said his prayers faithfully etc).

You don't have to worship Popes. You can stand and cheer a Pope simply  because he is the successor of St Peter. Or you can  cheer with a full heart - as so many of us did with beloved St John Paul the Great and beloved Papa Benedict when they each came to Britain - because you also have deep affection, admiration and love added to the knowledge that this man is Peter's successor.

But you are perfectly entitled to have reservations about a Pope's tactics or conversations. There's no need to panic, and no need to wish him ill. Think Catholic, don't give yourself a factional label, and be prepared to think along larger lines.