Reagan was routinely “misunderstood” and misrepresented by his opponents in both parties. His personal convictions notwithstanding, no government agency lost funding or authority under his administration.
It seems to me that you’re comparing Pope Francis to an ideal never observed in nature.
Francis' conviction is in doubt here because of what he has said, not because there are factors out of his control like a Congress unwilling to cut spending. You seem to think Reagan was a big-government Republican like Boehner.
It seems to me that you’re comparing Reagan to a Reagan never observed in nature.