Pope Francis has spoken out against transgender ideology, calling it “a global war against the family” and “the great enemy of marriage.” He distinguishes between transgendered people, whom Christians must “accompany”, and transgender ideology, i.e. “teaching in school about this, to change mentalities.” The latter he calls “ideological colonization.”
He also warned reporters, “Please don’t say that the pope will sanctify trans [transgender people], because I read the headlines in the newspapers.” At least he’s not completely oblivious to the effects that his public comments sometimes have. “I want to be clear, this is a problem of morals. It’s a problem. It’s a human problem that has to be resolved as it can, always with God’s mercy”.
Quotes from “Pope says walk with trans persons, but fight gender theory” by Inés San Martín, Crux, October 2, 2016.
The Pope, through the Congregation for the Clergy, also recently reaffirmed the Church’s ban of candidates to the priesthood who “practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called ‘gay culture,'” saying that “such people are ‘in a situation that gravely hinders them from relating correctly to men and women'”, and that “‘[o]ne must in no way overlook the negative consequences that can derive from the ordination of persons with deep-seated homosexual tendencies.’”
Congregation for the Clergy, “The Gift of the Priestly Vocation“, December 8, 2016.
For this he is, of course, catching flak.
I criticize him a fair bit so I wanted to give credit where it’s due.
Petty Armchair Popery 
As for flak, we do well to recall Christ’s promise: “Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven.” (Matt 5:11-12)
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SS:
Yes, and I think the fact that he is willing to take flak for certain of his positions, should tell us that in those areas where he appears morally or doctrinally lax, whatever the reason may be, it’s evidently not for fear of catching flak.
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