You write as if Pope Francis does not have excellent theologians who both proof-reading his writings and also support his writings.  Francis is hardly 'distorting' Thomas Aquinas' work.

I support good theologians.  But what is more important than having theologians theorizing concepts, is the LIVING of the Christian life in TODAY'S world.  How Catholics do this is to seek out new horizons of service and be unafraid to think new thoughts.  

Unlike Pope Benedict, Pope Francis IS able to think on his feet and take 'impromptu' questions.  He has often left the security of the prepared text and scripted event, has taken risks, and made himself  vulnerable to the impossible-to-predict nature of the questions people might ask.  Jesus did that as well--it's risky.

Francis is also sharp enough to know when people want to "set him up"---which is why pastoral concerns, rather than legalism [as some of the Dubia signers support] supports the transformative and central nature of the Gospels.