[Do not dub me shapka broham]

I would put emphasis on the "sixty years without expressing an opinion on a controversial subject" portion of my statement.

In other words, Ratzinger was a known quantity before his elevation to the papacy.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Ratzinger was a known quantity before his elevation to the papacy.

To a degree. Much like Miers. Most Catholics on FR (I'm not one) had no clue which direction he would take the Church. His Homily at his Papal Installation Mass gave an indication just where he wanted the Church to go, which is in the same direction as JPII set it upon.