Although the stars would align in things political with things religious were there to be a connection between the change of pontiffs and the machinations of the global left, I still place it in the tin foil hat category without specific evidence.
The fact of the matter is, that there is a cohort of aging (liberal, many homosexually oriented) clerics whose exuberance at what they understood to be the changes of Vat II never took hold as they thought they would (the often cited “spirit” of the Council). They lost ground with the long-lived JPII and Benedict gave the prospect that they would go to their graves without seeing the fruits of their revolution. My belief is that the prospect of this, made even these (for the most part) decent (albeit incorrect) men, engage their worse natures and collaborate to bring Benedict down using whatever threats and pressure they could - just so they could finally see the change before going to the grave. Unfortunately, their kingdoms are too much of this world - and therefore their own mortality influences their better judgement.
Yes. It was a "now or never" kind of thing. They could not wait for God to call Benedict home because, in short, they had at that moment the votes to put their man on the throne.
Now, they know their time is short and Francis is on an unholy tear to destroy the faith of millions. The Church is on its way to being just the largest social services provider on the planet . . . and it won't be pushing religion on anyone . . . just ask the Knights of Malta.