[Mike Darancette]

No, he cannot. The voting suffrage for the college of Cardinals is limited to those under age 80.

So he cannot do as St. Peter did and "appoint" his successor?

[BillyBoy]

1) The first papal conclave was in 1059 A.D. Papal selection worked differently prior to that time.

2) We have no record of how St. Linus became Pope. That he was Peter's right-hand man or hand picked by Peter for the job is pure speculation.