The thing is, the Pope does not serve at the pleasure of the laity, or for the most part, at the pleasure of the clergy either.
It is a major thing for a Pope to step down from the job while still living, and an even greater improbability that a Pope could be forced to abdicate. Even US Supreme Court justices have less job security, for they COULD be subject to impeachment, but no such procedures exist for a Pope.
But did not Benedict set the standard for future popes to be able to step down. Even Pope Francis said a couple of months back that his time as Pope will be a short one.
If all Catholics in the world could vote to choose the Pope, I don’t necessarily think we would end up with a more conservative pontiff.
The presidency cannot be compared to the papacy. The presidency is ultimately elected in the Electoral College and that usually means (but not always) winning the popular vote among the broad mass of voters in the US. Further, a POTUS can be impeached and is subject to term limits-—things they don’t have at the Vatican. The office of the papacy is a lifetime appointment.
All we can do at this stage is pray that the current Pontiff will follow in his predecessor’s footsteps and retire early.
His boss (God) can remove him from office.
The Borgia's found a way...