The social gospel preachings of Pope Francis are starting to ruffle rich American Catholics, according to Home Depot founder Ken Langone, who is leading an effort to raise $180 million to restore St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.

The first Jesuit pope has taken aim at trickle-down economics and warned about creation of a “culture of prosperity” that is “incapable of feeling compassion for the poor.” Francis issued a November exhortation on the world economy, which said in part:

“In this system, which tends to devour everything which stands in the way of increased profits, whatever is fragile, like the environment, is defenseless before the interests of a deified market, which becomes the only rule.”

Langone told CNBC that one potential “seven-figure donor” to the St. Patrick’s restoration has become upset at the pope’s words. Langone took his concerns to Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York.

“I’ve told the cardinal, ‘Your eminence, this is one more hurdle I hope we don’t have to deal with. You want to be very careful about generalities. Rich people in one country don’t act the same as rich people in another country.”

CNBC talked to Cardinal Dolan, whose soothing sound bites have become ubiquitous on network TV programs from “60 Minutes” to the “Today Show.”

“The pope loves poor people; he also loves rich people,” said Dolan. “So I said, ‘Ken, thanks for bringing it to my attention. We gotta make sure this gentleman understands the Holy Father’s message properly. And then I think he’s gonna say, ‘Oh, OK, if that’s the case, count me in for St. Patrick’s Cathedral.'”

Dolan is frequently pictured by The New York Times “Sunday Style” section at gala Manhattan fundraisers in the company of the rich and famous.

Langone also reported telling Dolan, “You get more with honey than with vinegar,” and pointed out, “There is no nation on Earth so forthcoming, so giving” as the United States.

Langone is a major financial supporter of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. After trying to persuade Christie to run for president in 2012, he switched support to Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

Dolan tried to put a green glow on the pope’s exhortations about money and profits.

“Money itself is morally neutral,” said the cardinal. “Money, our wealth, is a gift from God. And the morality comes from the way we use it. If it becomes a god, if it becomes an idol, Pope Francis is saying, then it’s wrong. Because there is only one God.”

Pope Francis has begun to take heat on the right. The Holy Father’s thoughts on economic justice were described as “pure Marxism” by Rush Limbaugh.

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, an arch-orthodox prelate, was quoted last summer saying that conservative Catholics “generally have not been really happy” with Pope Francis.

Chaput has tried to soften his words, saying he has encouraged conservatives not to judge Pope Francis, and saying: “We should look at him after a year, rather than trying to size him up at each speech.”