Times have changed in a lot of dimensions. To name 2: 1) we have an AI thing now, and 2) the pope is American and more trustworthy than all of our current top politicians of both parties.
It's not like people are longing for times of papal authority, they're just looking for anyone at all with common sense.
15 years ago it was Pope Benedict, who was a pretty different figure. I can speak only for myself, but I would have had more cynicism about him than I would for Francis or Leo.