Mark, I agree with your comments about JPII.  I think he went too far in trying to pull back on the "overreaching" of the Vatican II supporters, and ended up removing the breath of fresh air that Vatican II gave the Church.  The JPII/BXVI church became as stale as the pre-VII church had been.  And then JPII died and BXVI quit - and what they had inherited could not survive if it stayed on the path they had placed the Church.  They went too far in their own way.

I think Wuerl is trying to find a  path that both "sides" can walk on together - those who think some change is necessary and those who think JPII/BXVI nailed it all down tight for another 500 years.  I love what Francis is doing - we need to find a way to respect each other, and recognize that some find spiritual growth in doctrinal purism and some don't.