The world is not hungry for yet another Italian. Africa is likely to be viewed as yet too young as a Catholic civilization to produce a pope. The South Americans mentioned are mostly of European parents or grandparents.
What about Cardinal Luis Tagle of the Phillipines? His bio is fascinating. He’s young and vigorous. The first non-white pope. From a very old — at this point — Catholic culture. And a man whom Benedict clearly trusted.
A baby cardinal reborn as pope. Who knows?