First of all--I think they key to understanding the position of the Church is that a person who has a same sex attraction is not bared from seminary and priesthood.  A person who is GAY is bared.  The difference?  A gay person is not able to live a celibate life because they are acting out their attraction.

A heterosexual person who acts out their attractions would also be bared from entering seminary--because such a person does not demonstrate an ability to live celibacy and chastely.  

Secondly: is it a news flash that the Church does not support the gay lifestyle?  Why are you surprised to hear the pope reiterate church teaching on this issue?  The pope might be liberal--in the sense that he prefers to emphasize the social teaching of the Church over the moral--but he is not a heretic. His pastoral style might also be different from his predecessors--but again, he is not a heretic.