I don't think that this is a pivotal moment for the catholic church, as some commentators would have us think. That ship sailed with JP2, and appointing Ratzi was a convulsion which did no credit to the old guard of reactionary Cardinals who would have been more suited to the court of King Canute.
My money is on the next pope being a continuation of this progressive direction of travel towards a church which chimes more closely with all in the world that it cannot deny.