Benedict’s election came as a shock to a lot of people. The libs were crushed (they tried to elect Bergoglio back then), but even us traditionalists who had been watching and admiring Ratzinger for years prior were flabbergasted when his name was read on that balcony. A priest friend of ours even told us once he couldn’t get elected!
The Pope depends on all the dicasteries of the Curia under him to get things done. They won’t necessarily oppose him outright, but if they smile to his face and then undermine him behind his back it becomes a real mess.
Benedict was a first-rate scholar and a theologian. But his academic disposition was, unfortunately, not much help in a den of vipers.
That said, to his eternal credit, he got two things done which were absolute triumphs and will have immense impact in the Church to come. He freed the Latin Mass, and he set up the Ordinariate for Anglicans.
Golly!
There's an equivalent eGOP 'most EVERYWHERE!