My Eastern Orthodox acquaintance who pays attention to Roman Catholic Church politics was aghast when Pope Benedict named Archbishop Levada to succeed him.
i was aghast when JP II invited all the world’s religions to Assisi to “pray” together.
i didn’t see him lift up Jesus Christ and preach him to all these pagans, which included hindus, sieks, muslims, animal worshippers, etc. etc.
could have been the most disgraceful act i ever saw, i knew the end was near and the great falling away was well under way.
there is a small remnant though of faithful believers, just not sure any of them are bishops or cardinals.
Since Pope Benedict was first introduced to me by what his colleagues thought of him, that he has a "towering intellect" and a "backbone of tempered steel" I am going to have to go with HIS decisions about personnel.
No disrepect to your Eastern Orthodox acquaintance.