Although no Pope has worn a tiara since Pope Paul VI abandoned the practice in 1964, both John Paul II and Benedict XVI were gifted tiaras durring their papacies, so the gifting of a tiara to Pope Francis is not entirely unusual or unprecedented.
Although no Pope has worn a tiara since Pope Paul VI gave up his own tiara in 1964, and the practice was officially abandoned by Pope John Paul I in 1978, both John Paul II and Benedict XVI were gifted tiaras durring their papacies. Because of this, the gifting of a tiara to Pope Francis is not entirely unusual or unprecedented.