Of course that’s true.
Not only was the Pope’s choice of words frivolous, it is impossible to guess what he was trying to say.
Yes, it seemed that the pope was saying that God is very small compared to the universe, like a simple Marvel Superhero, and that God has to work within an already existing universe. But then is seems to say that His powers to work within that universe are very limited. To say God is not Magic is to say He can't do anything supernatural which takes away all Miracles. So that removes God completely from the pope's doctrine.