I agree with you on the informal schism but short of reconciling this, I think a formal schism would allow people from both camps to practice their faiths more honestly and authentically. However, I don't think a schism will occur under Pope Francis unless it is the conservatives who split. But in essence they can't because the Bishop of Rome is the purported leader of the universal church. Perhaps PF's desire to be called the Bishop of Rome (as opposed to "Pope") was a first step toward hierarchical decentralization, and this would open the door for bishops to guide their respective flocks according to the principles of sensus fidelium. This is all pure speculaltion of course, IMO it is more likely that successive popes will continue to confound matters by insisting that their vision for the church is tantamount to Divine Truth, thereby furthering the RCC down the path of ecclesial irrelevance. Perhaps Cyprian was right when he warned against elevating Rome as bishop of bishops in3AD.