What exactly makes this Pope any different from the others?

he is a scientist

in his case it's because he doesn't appear to be a catholic

He was a cardinal for many years

and was elected to the highest position in the Roman Catholic Church.

Those two things make him different from nearly all other people.

He is a man chosen by other men to lead the over 1,5 billion member Catholic Church. We know he is not God, nor Jesus Christ. He is simply 1 more in a long line going all the way back to St. Peter, the apostle, who was the 1st pope. The bishop of Rome.

What exactly makes your last boss different from your current boss? They are a different person ( which includes a unique personality) but they are still the boss. The authority is what matters. Jesus Christ picks each Pope to lead the church

I think he doesn't like some of the traditions in the Roman Catholic Church.

Don't let anyone tell you the Roman Catholic church doesn't change. They have changed many times, and will change more.

He is still a crook

A pickpocket that walks through a crowd of saints would only see their pockets.

This one got caught protecting a pedophile.