Francis is the dumbest Jesuit I’ve ever seen. Even far-left Jesuits are typically much smarter.
I think that you are right. Before becoming Pope, Francis seems to have little record as a teacher or author, and many of his comments and writings as Pope are painfully ill-formed. In contrast, John Paul II seemed to capture the moment when speaking and delivered powerful written lines of reasoning; and Benedict gave the impression of personal humility coupled with a deep reservoir of learning.