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NEW YORK—Whatever impressions Pope Benedict XVI took away from his long weekend in New York may influence a big, upcoming decision—picking a successor to Cardinal Edward Egan as archbishop.

Speculating on the next leader of the New York Archdiocese, one of the most important posts in the U.S. Roman Catholic Church, has become something of a parlor game for church-watchers. A couple of the candidates who keep surfacing reflect the diversity of the American church: the black archbishop of Atlanta and the Hispanic archbishop of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Egan, 76, handed in his retirement papers a year ago, as required for all archbishops at the age of 75. Although Benedict’s intentions are unknown, outside experts seem to believe his mid-April visit made for a fitting farewell. If Egan indeed gets to retire, that will be a first: Every previous bishop who led the church in New York died in office.

Archdiocese spokesman Joseph Zwilling says Benedict and Egan did not discuss the cardinal’s retirement while the pope was in town and nothing has been set.