text: Since the huge political and economic power of the church has declined, Popes have been less crudely corrupt-- today it seems the main aim is to defend the Church, which they've done pretty badly, too often trying to bury bad news in secrecy (even demanding silence in return for settling lawsuits over abuse).  The present Pope seems less corrupt and much wiser to me, but how far he can get with that approach is still in question.