1) MSW, so whose narrative should be magisterial? Tad Szulc's? No one has had more access to PJP II and written as thoroughly as Weigel.  
2) What Benedict said was in an interview. It holds as much magisterial weight as Francis's airplane interviews- none.  And Benedict wasn't saying that if the homosexual prostitute uses a condom, that's enough to allow him to receive Holy Communion. That seems to be what Francis is pushing in AL.