Is the pope a commie? When Pope Francis dared criticize the excesses of capitalism during his first visit to the U.S., he was denounced in some quarters as a naïve, cloistered cleric — a Che Guevara in religious robes. On Fox News, Francis was called "a communist" and "Marxist" who should "stay home" because "he doesn't like capitalism," while in his Washington Post column George Will sniffed at the pope's "woolly sentiments," "shrill" tone, and "sanctimony." Francis provoked these denunciations by saying climate change was a real problem that needed to be addressed, and by reminding us that the ultimate purpose of capitalism, and of politics, is to serve "the common good." He also praised business as "a noble profession" and praised capitalism for lifting so many people "out of extreme poverty." This is hardly radical stuff; Christianity and free-market fundamentalism are very different faiths.