Pope Benedict (He was "Ratzinger" as a cardinal not as pope.) did not obfuscate in his communications.  He exercised firm leadership which, I believe is the mandate Christ left with Peter and his successors . . . "What you bind on earth . . . ")  I disagree that Pope Francis' critics simply want him to agree.  No, what we want is clarity of communication.  It's difficult to agree or disagree when it is not clear what was said.  Mixed messages from the pope are not conducive to the welfare of The Church.  I understand that the liberal mind-set seldom perceives objective answers to situations and that carries over into how leaders are perceived.