Pope Francis is a great man from what I can see, and a humble, loyal servant to the god he serves, from all I read.

Not all popes have been humble or loyal servants, that’s for sure.  It would seem that popes from the Renaissance period in particular have a bad reputation.

The following quote, which is rich beyond measure to me, succinctly captures the general consensus vis a vis that era’s pontifical array:

“No one would have considered a Renaissance pope the servant of anyone, even God.”

Gilmour, David (2011-10-25). The Pursuit of Italy: A History of a Land, Its Regions, and Their Peoples (Kindle Location 1030).