Define 'breakthrough'

In his tenth report from the Synod in Rome, John Allen starts off with the following paragraph which can be found here at The Word From Rome:

In a potential indication that one should not expect breakthroughs from the 21st Synod of Bishops on the tough questions of celibacy or communion for divorced and remarried Catholics, a Western European cardinal told the bishops that he understood all the positions expressed on those issues, and cautioned bishops not to go home “feeling as if they have not been heard.”

Now the word breakthrough usually means that progress is made on a topic, a moving forward to something positive. I'm wondering just what kind of breakthrough Mr. Allen has in mind when saying that one shouldn't be expected on such issues as celibacy and the reception of the Eucharist for those in a state of sin. Would married priests be positive? Would allowing any and all to partake at the Lord's Supper be positive?

Is it a poor choice of a word or is Mr. Allen speaking to his most likely readers?