As much as I don't want to, I have to agree with you.  It is very conceivable that the next Pope can attempt to jerk the Church backwards.  There is always push back to progress, especially from entrenched forces.  If Trump's election is all about push back from white males afraid for their status, one can just imagine the push back from male clerics terrified of losing their exclusive rights to determine the institutional and sacramental economy of the RCC.  Progress is like the movement of a caterpillar.  There's always a period where things get humped up before there is more forward movement.