Pope Benedict, in his first speech on the aims of his papacy, seemed to be trying to show the kinder, gentler side that aides say he has always had.
The German who for nearly a quarter-century was portrayed as the "Panzer Cardinal" seems to want to shed the armour his critics said he wore. The man whom adversaries called a modern-day Inquisitor wants to show that he has an open ear.
"In a sense he has been liberated," Father Joseph Augustine Di Noia, now the second-ranking official in the department that the new Pope headed until Tuesday, told Reuters.
In yesterday's speech, the Pope spoke of "a sense of inadequacy and human turmoil at the responsibility entrusted to me yesterday". He said he did not expect to be elected.
As Cardinal Ratzinger, he headed the Vatican's doctrinal department and made dissident theologians quake in their cassocks. Now he was calling for theological dialogue.
An intellectual who never wavered in condemning critics of teachings against contraception, women priests, divorce or homosexuality, he seemed meek rather than mighty in the Sistine Chapel and said he would need everyone's help and prayers.
Churchmen like Fr Di Noia who have known him for years said they were not surprised and that the world would now recognise another side of a man they believe had been falsely labelled.
"You will see that his personality will surprise many, a great many people. It will surprise them because of this slightly caricature-like image that people have of the cardinal he was," said Spanish Cardinal Carlos Amigo Vallejo.
So, where did the tough-guy image come from? "It's a myth," said Fr Di Noia. "And, as with all myths, once the people see him and he talks, they are going to go around scratching their heads and say 'What we thought about this man was not true'."
Other Vatican officials who have worked with the new Pope said that he had been a prisoner of his old job: "In a certain sense the job makes the man," said a high-ranking prelate who spent part of yesterday morning with Benedict.
"His outside image was chained to his job. He had to do those things in those ways because it was his job to defend the faith.
"Those who were not on the same wavelength underscored that aspect of his character and called him 'Panzer Cardinal' and things like that but it did not fully correspond to the truth."
Italy's media, not always kind to the German in the past, appeared to be softening its approach now that he had assumed a role with enormous influence in their country:
"Ratzinger was perhaps too well known, if that is possible, and his pontificate will be a battle against the bad press he has had for so long," said Corriere della Sera newspaper.
Some of the Pope's theological adversaries tipped their hats to his politeness but were not so sure that his severe side would be softened so quickly.
"He never got close to people, even when they were very close to him as colleagues. That's the other side of him. He can be very cool. He can also argue in a very Machiavellian way when necessary," Swiss theologian Hans Kueng told German television.
Asked if Ratzinger could attract people to the Church in the same way as his predecessor John Paul II had, the dissident academic said: "He will have to make a big effort. He doesn't give the impression of being able to do that. But I am in favour of giving him his chance. Let's wait and see."