Pope Francis and His Critics offers a broad assessment of Francis and his pontificate, keeping in mind important criticisms mounted by his detractors. An opening chapter summarizes a representative sampling of five-year evaluations of the Francis papacy.

Subsequent chapters take up the views of the first Latin American pope as well as his critics on specific topics: gender issues, work and business, consumerism, caring for the poor, liturgy, communion for divorced and remarried, and clergy sex abuse.

A distinctive feature of the book is a careful analysis of the recent book, To Change the Church, by Ross Douthat, which has received much attention in the religious and secular world.