Four years in, here's my take on Pope Francis. On the negative side, he's an undisciplined communicator. He tends to ramble when he speaks off the cuff and, now and then, he says things that he (or his aides) have to walk back, creating too many unfortunate distractions. He can be ambiguous when speaking about Church teaching, tending more toward platitudes than clarity, and he's insensitive and awkward when speaking about women. 

On the plus side, he understands and articulates what's essential and urgent about the Church (mercy, solidarity with the poor and suffering, acting as Christ in the world) and what's excess baggage that should be jettisoned (triumphalism, cancerous clericalism, rigid legalism over compassion.)

His negatives are sometimes irritating and embarrassing. But, in my view, his positives are so strong that, on balance, I believe he's the leader the Church needs at this moment in history. Warts and all.