Yep, Francis has encouraged initiative for change. Unfortunately, there's not much incentive to want change when you belong to the group that most benefits from the status quo.

I give Bishop Barres the benefit of the doubt that he's sincerely opposed to lifting the celibacy requirement. But you know there have to be others out there, especially in the developing world, who see the merits of the idea and are just waiting for somebody else to lead the way.

It's human nature. I'm sure when Jesus said "Let the one without sin cast the first stone," there were plenty of people waiting to go second.