I’m guessing the main opposition comes from ultra-right wing European and American catholics (the kind which aligned with the evangelical right in the US in recent years) and is rather small yet vocal bunch of assholes. I’d guess that he’s probably far more popular in the fasting growing segment of catholicism, the global south (since he’s from Latin America himself). That being said, there is probably a conservative bent in some places in the global south and I’d guess that splits along class lines? I’m just guessing here, though.
As for the catholics I know, my aunt (the most devout catholic I know) seems to love him and respect his more humanistic stance. She has nothing but good things to say about him, as far as I’ve heard. I’d suspect she’s far more representative of the faith in the US than Bill Donahue, at least among working class catholics.
And I’d bet Francis would shit in the woods if he had to! Benedict would have never shit in the woods.
