Basic Rule of Thumb for Papal Controversies

Popes virtually never actually say something that can’t be squared with the Tradition. Just about the last time it happened was the monothelite heresy, when Honorius expressed some incautious opinions in a private letter. Beyond that it’s a pretty rare occasion.
And yet, there are frequent panic attacks about the Pope throughout the past 40 years. Not just this one. Ever since Popes became a mass media phenom (basically with JPII) there have been Reactionary freakouts about the Pope just about being on the imminent edge of quite very possibly betraying the Tradition.

JPII was somehow screwing everything up with World Youth Days and being a rock star, and welcoming break dancers and Assisi Peace Prayers and opposing the war and opposing the death penalty. Benedict was likewise screwing things up with the unapproved pieces of Caritas in Veritate, and opposing the death penalty and saying use of a condom was not always and everywhere a ticket to hell. And now, Francis is causing tons for freakouts with his interview and various other words and deeds. He will cause a lot more. And *none* of it will actually be unorthodox or incompatible with the Tradition. It will just be offensive to Reactionaries.