This Pope has certainly, as you said, brought a breath of fresh air to an outdated, stagnant and out-of-touch organisation. However I still call it hypocritical to chastise everyone for objectifying money, when the Catholic Chuch Inc. is certainly holding onto vast amounts of assets. For their sake, and his, I really hope there's a wave of reform, in all their doings. I fear though feathers will be ruffled, and there'll be a push to get him out for rocking the boat.
I think you can hardly hold him, new as he is, accountable for the vast wealth of the church. I wouldn't be surprised if he starts using some of it. I was recently having a conversation with my grandfather who is worried for the Pope's safety. Why? Because he's so counter to his predecessors. He may actually be christ-like. How dare he?!
The Church might have assets, but do they have liquidity? I don't know. In New England, which is the most Catholic part of the country, many churches have closed recently. In fact, more than one that I know of, have been bought and turned into bars. I don't know if that's supposed to be some kind of rebellious statement or gimmick, since they serve (shitty) wine anyway.
My guess is that they have plenty of liquid assets on hand. However, the bulk of their wealth is tied up in real-estate holdings, antiquities and art. Truth is, nobody really knows.
That's exactly a point I've been thinking too, although I wasn't going to vocalise it quite as such (less knocks on my door, the better haha). But I entirely agree: it isn't entirely his fault, and I hold no thoughts that he can overturn and change it all in a handful of years. He's at least opening dialogues and making positive reforms, I just hope he, and his successors, see them through. About being Christ-like, hell, remember the 'controversy' when he dared to carry his bag onto a plane. The horror!
I think his papacy will be a good thing for the world. I'm glad he's there. My grandfather that I mentioned is a pretty staunch atheist and the fact that he is worried about the well being of the pope means Francis must be doing something right.
Should you get a response from the Pope, please let us know :)