Papal ambivalence? Not really; he's just plain negative about Americans.

By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | May 20, 2016

John Allen has an interesting piece on the Crux site today, in which he remarks that Pope Francis shows "a distinct ambivalence about the United States and about Americans." 

However if you read the piece-- which is informed, reasoned, and generally convincing, as usual with Allen's work—you'll have trouble detecting any actual evidence of ambivalence. Allen sees lots of negatives in the Pope's attitude toward the US; he doesn't mention any real positives. 

And by the way it's mutual. Allen notes that "the most overt blowback [Francis has] faces since his election, both inside and outside the Church, has stemmed from the United States."