This is what former pope Benedict XVI said about it:

> I would not say so, in the sense that the Holy Spirit picks out the pope... I would say that the Spirit does not exactly take control of the affair, but rather like a good educator, as it were, leaves us much space, much freedom, without entirely abandoning us. Thus the Spirit’s role should be understood in a much more elastic sense, not that he dictates the candidate for whom one must vote. Probably the only assurance he offers is that the thing cannot be totally ruined.

> There are too many contrary instances of popes the Holy Spirit obviously would not have picked!

Source: https://www.catholic.com/magazine/online-edition/does-god-pi...