Pope Francis Was Never a Progressive—You Just Moved the Goalposts

Pope Francis (Cartoon by Marc Ratner)

There’s a popular narrative that Pope Francis was a progressive, a revolutionary within the Catholic Church who has upended centuries of tradition with liberal ideals.

By The Editorial Board

He was praised by secular commentators for speaking out on climate change, calling for compassion toward the LGBTQ+ community, and condemning unfettered capitalism. But here’s the truth: Pope Francis wasn’t a progressive firebrand. He was a moderate voice trying to preserve basic human dignity in a world that has veered alarmingly toward extremism.

The reality is, the so-called “progressivism” of Francis is simply decency, compassion, and a preference for mercy over judgment. What was once considered common ground—caring for the poor, welcoming the stranger, treating marginalized people with respect—is now seen through a distorted lens as radical leftism. It’s not that Francis sprinted to the ideological fringe; it’s that society’s center has lurched so far to the extreme right that standing still makes you look like you’re charging the barricades.

Look at the backlash he receives from within his own Church. Right-wing factions, especially in the U.S., accuse him of heresy for suggesting that we should welcome gay people with love rather than condemnation. Bishops grumble when he dares to talk about climate change or economic inequality—as if concern for God’s creation and the poor weren’t foundational teachings of Catholic social doctrine.

But Pope Francis has not changed Church teaching. He hasn’t rewritten doctrine to permit same-sex marriage or abortion. He upheld traditional views on marriage and sexuality. What he has done is shift the tone: away from fire-and-brimstone dogmatism and toward dialogue, understanding, and mercy. If that feels revolutionary, it says more about us than it does about him.

The alarming truth is that the Overton window — the range of ideas considered politically acceptable — has narrowed so dramatically that even the smallest gestures toward human decency are branded as subversive. We are so inundated with cruelty disguised as policy, exclusion masked as piety, and nationalism cloaked in religion that when someone, even a Pope, suggests we care for the refugee or the planet, it’s seen as a political statement rather than a moral imperative.

Pope Francis reminded us that the Gospel is not partisan. Compassion doesn’t belong to the left or the right. It belongs to everyone. If recognizing the humanity of others has become a progressive cause, then the problem isn’t with the Pope—it’s with us.

So no, Pope Francis wasn’t a progressive hero. He was a centrist in a world that’s forgotten where the center used to be. And until we reclaim that center, every act of kindness will look like rebellion.