Nothing revolutionary here. This has been Catholic teaching for ages.
The news story is distorting what the Pope was saying, however. He was using a strict Catholic definition of "church" (groups with priests and bishops that can supposedly be traced back to the Apostles) and calling other groups "ecclesial communions" or congregations of believers, which is how most people define "church" anyway.
Basically he was saying the Catholic Church has the full set of tools while others have some but not all. That's debateable of course , but nothing new.
Some telling quotes from the document: "It is possible, according to Catholic doctrine, to affirm correctly that the Church of Christ is present and operative in the churches and ecclesial Communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church, on account of the elements of sanctification and truth that are present in them." <--- basically Protestants and others have good stuff and that Christ operates through them too.
Also: "It follows that these separated churches and Communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation. In fact the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as instruments of salvation..." <---- you can find Christ and salvation in other denominations.
I don't see how its a surprise that the Pope thinks the Catholic Church has the "truth". He wouldn't be Pope otherwise.
Finally, this is MUCH different than JW teaching on "apostate Christendom."
