Raymond Arroyo takes a look at the newly appointed cardinal-designates and looks toward the future:
The journalistic art of ranking candidates strikes me as a foolish exercise. What I can offer is an image of the next pope. He may be non-Italian, possibly from South America or Africa. He will be expected to travel, and he will very likely be an older man. The cardinals I’ve spoken with don’t seem to relish the idea of another young pope ruling the church for decades. Still, nobody really knows.
Catholic teaching maintains that the Holy Spirit (through the conclave) selects the next pope. Since the spirit has undoubtedly made the selection already, why not leave the outcome to him.