The theories revolve around the belief that Francis doesn't have a legitimate claim to the papacy.
Elected in July at 79 and crowned in August, he resigned the papacy in December.
If elected, Scherer is likely to add a social media jolt to the Papacy.
Holy Week will see at least one break from tradition with this new papacy.
So far, that is the first foreign trip on the calendar of Francis' new papacy.
The accusations resurfaced after the Argentine cardinal's unexpected election to the papacy last week.
In just five days, Francis' straightforward, spontaneous style has become immediate hallmark of his papacy.
The former Cardinal Jorge Maria Bergoglio has already stamped a new, simpler, style on the papacy.
He leaves the papacy on Thursday, becoming the first pope to step down since 1415.
As I said, though, I have only passing knowledge of the church and the papacy.
Benedict's decision has inevitably prompted frenzied speculation over who might assume the papacy in his place.
Home to the papacy, Vatican City is brimming with extraordinary artworks and monuments of history.
They run archdioceses that are among the biggest donors to the Catholic Church and to the papacy.
Benedict's unexpected move has inevitably prompted frenzied speculation over who might assume the papacy in his place.
For some Catholics, the unrepeatable quality of this papacy may also be a source of quiet relief.
He taught the church and the world that the papacy is not about power but about service.
Still, the cardinals listed above appear on many of the speculative lists of top contenders for the papacy.
The Vatican has also been plagued by another scandal in recent days, as Benedict was ending his papacy.
If popular opinion overwhelmingly associates Catholicism with the papacy, that's partly because effective Vatican theologizing made it so.
His papacy got off to a rocky start with al-Azhar, which accused Benedict of repeatedly addressing Islam negatively.
BBC: Pope resigns: Sunni authority al-Azhar eyes better ties
"There were bumps in the road during this papacy, " said Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League.
The Papacy is the dominant symbol of the continuity, consistency and resiliency of the institution of the Catholic Church.
From its start, Pope Benedict's papacy had been focused on reinforcing Catholicism's identity, particularly in Europe, its historic home.
American cardinals also run archdioceses that are among the biggest donors to the Catholic church and to the papacy.
But the papacy is, more even than most other high offices, what God and the man make of it.
Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the Pope would "cherish" the visit as one of the highlights of his papacy.
According to the Holy See's constitution, a 15-20 day waiting period must be observed after the papacy becomes vacant.
Boniface spent his early career undoing all of Celestine's acts and trying to restore the papacy to political prominence.
For Benedict, his renouncement of the papacy brings changes both great and small.
WSJ: Pope Bids Faithful Farewell In Emotional, Historic Exit
Over the course of his papacy, the pope garnered praise for his writings and drew large crowds during trips abroad.
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