I was much younger, but I don't remember John Paul in a significantly different light.

I grew up Catholic, and if there is one word I could use to describe Catholics, it definitely would not be dogmatic. Ask Catholics if they use birth control. :) In fact, I would go so far to say that Catholic dogma was typically something that non-Catholics mentioned more than Catholics themselves. To me, being Catholic was about observance. There are the Sacraments, there is ceremony: Ash Wednesday, Lent, Easter Sunday, fish on Friday, etc. this is what my experience entailed. I can't once recall a priest speaking about homosexuality, or even abortion, for that matter. Maybe it happens in Catholic churches now, but it didn't then. At a Catholic mass, they read scripture, mostly from the New Testament. Then the priest gives a sermon based upon the themes of that reading. You won't find much at all addressing homosexuality or abortion in the Bible. Mostly the themes regard selflessness, trust in faith, humility, kindness, forgiveness, not judging others, etc.

I understand how Francis is being seen to make waves, and I do genuinely appreciate it. However, I don't see these words rocking Sunday mass, at least as far as I remember it.