It don't think U.S. Catholics, in general, have listened to, adhered to, or followed the Catholic leadership in many a year. A change in leadership doesn't really mean much. The bishops, as a rule, are going in one direction, and a significant number of the Catholic populace in another --- to other denominations or the "nones" or the "dones". 

I always thought of leaders as those who listen to the people tell of their needs and then lead the charge to obtain them. 

Contrarily, instead of listening, the bishops, indeed Catholic clerics taken as-a-whole, tell the people what they need, and then publish/preach/enact a series of do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do edicts.

Listen vs tell -- the difference between leaders and dictators.