With recent – and perhaps not-so-recent – attacks on the current pope (ie: this), there have been several defenses of him published. One that was brought to my attention was written by a Lutheran. While I do not know the situation well enough to really comment, one paragraph stood out pretty strongly. I hope you will pardon me for sharing it:

In addition to the unremitting hostility directed at him from the  Modernist wing of his own Communion, even prior to his election as Pope,  Ratzinger was a favourite target of the unbelieving worlds impassioned  hatred for Christ Jesus our Lord and the members of His mystical body.  Some years ago, the British _Daily Telegraph_ (which at one time  had the reputation of being a quality newspaper) reported that the  then cardinal had committed a terrible gaffe by publicly expressing  hope for the conversion of the Jews. Fancy that, a Christian wishing  salvation for a sizeable group of his neighbours, a faux pas indeed! A  Google search has confirmed my memory that British journalists were  likewise incensed by the then cardinals comparison of Buddhism with  spiritual autoeroticism. How scandalous that a Christian spokesman  should speak candidly of religions that offer a spurious salvation!

I had to laugh.