[the invisib1e hand]

I see... read the article (not just scanned) and it answers the questions.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I thought the same as you: "Hmm?" Is he being "kicked upstairs" into a merely ceremonial position, or what?

My hunch at this time is that B16 wants to move younger good-guys into the most powerful sees where they can stay for a long time. B16 knows -- at age 84 himself--- he's got to make his major-impact appointments very soon before age and disability close off his options.

Thus you reward a good prelate like O'Brien by giving him a Vatican niche 3 years short of the canonical retirement age for Abps, give him a Cardinal hat so he can vote in the next consistory (they have a vote until the age of 80), and put a young guy into the Baltimore see.

I'm not really that into curial politics, but that's my guess.