Gracesmum, I agree with you, at last, the the Pope reflects what is happening in parishes and is setting an example of where the church should go.
His response to the scandals was zero tolerance 'When a priest abuses, you must never look away. You cannot be in a position of power and use it go destroy the life of another person'. And reflecting and developing that it seems that Francis is a skilful politician, (as he must be in that position), he has taken control of the Curia (the civil service) and is making it the servant of the church.
Ratzinger's best action was to resign. One Cardinal said 'Perhaps the Holy Spirit held off until the house was collapsing around our ears. God is good at writing straight with crooked lines'.
So yes, for those of us still sticking with the church, Francis is bright, compassionate, personally humble but determined light which we have been waiting for since the death of John XXIII.