Because most popes are cardinals first and becoming a cardinal takes time. Usually they have to get a college education, then be a preist for several years, then become a bishop, then become a cardinal. CGPGrey video about how to become pope recommended.

Same reason most CEOs of long-established companies are old. The only young religious leaders are in startup religions.

Cuz they were born a long time ago? 🤷‍♀️

The short, easy answer: it typically takes a lifetime of service for the rest of the church to determine if they fit the bill to be Pope.

Because old people die soon, so it’s difficult to really mess stuff up. It’s like an automatic failsafe.

The young ones are all busy getting molested.

Technically, they don’t have to be. They could elect a venerable whippersnapper cardinal - Dan Brown wrote a book about that. And that tells you how likely that is if he wrote the story. But it is possible.

It would be rare because it takes seniority to get into the position. And politics to be well liked enough to be put forward and then elected. By mostly old people. Some of whom would like the job themselves.