Alva Review-Courier -

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis marked his fifth anniversary as pope Tuesday by receiving votes of confidence from his predecessor and current Vatican No. 2, even as surveys showed his reform-minded papacy was turning off some of the most faithful, church-going Catholics.

First out of the gate to give him thumbs-up was Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI, whose historic resignation paved the way for Francis' election on March 13, 2013.

In a letter released on the eve of Francis' anniversary, Benedict publicly dismissed as "foolish prejudice" the opinions of critics who say Francis has no theologi...