Jim, I can certainly agree with you.  Each pope operates in ways that he feels is best for the situation.  Francis did inherit a mess.  His experiences in Argentina---where the government was often oppressive and resorted to kidnappings, torture and death for anybody who got in the government's way---is a lesson in caution.  Francis knew, personally, priests who were tortured and killed [just as Oscar Romero had experienced].  That is probably why he keeps "his cards close to his vest."