I think people are looking too much at those who could have been chosen instead of Francis back in 2013. No one in their late 70s is likely to be elected pope next time around, and certainly no one 80 or older at the time of the election, which rules out a large portion of the names being discussed.
Assuming the next papal election is still likely somewhere between 5 and 15 years away, you should be looking at younger cardinals, or even in some cases those who are not yet cardinals at all, for papabile. No one currently older than 70.
Francis was 77. Ratzinger was 78. It's probably the most geriatric job in the world.
Like we hear so much about how Biden is too old, but he's 6 years younger than Francis, who people are expecting to be around more than four more years.
