Cardinals in Rome are gathered to elect a new Pope will begin vote later Tuesday, with no clear frontrunner in sight.
The 115 Cardinal-electors will take part in a special mass in the morning before processing in the Sistine Chapel to begin their deliberations in the afternoon.
They will vote four times daily up to two-thirds can agree on a candidate.
The election was prompted by the resignation of the surprise of Pope Benedict XVI.
The challenges of a church beset by problems ranging from the sexual abuse scandal into allegations of corruption at the Vatican bank leading proved too much for the 85-year-old now known as Pope emeritus, say correspondents.
They now lie ahead for his successor, once he is elected.
Doors lockedTuesday morning will be dominated by saying the mass "for the election of the Pope", start at 1000 (0900 GMT) in Saint Peter's Basilica.
Conclave in numbers
- 115 Cardinal-electors
- Two-third-or 77-have to agree the Papal candidate
- Four votes per day, two in the morning and two in the evening
- Chosen candidate will be 266th Pope
- He will lead that's world's 1.2 billion Catholics
In the afternoon, 115 Cardinal-electors will pass into the Sistine Chapel for the secret conclave to select the successor of Pope Benedict XVI.
Once they have taken an oath of secrecy, January Guido Marini, papal master of ceremonies, will call out the words "Extra omnes"-"Everybody out"-and the chapel doors will be locked to outsiders.
The 85-year-old Pope emeritus resigned on 28 February after eight years in office-the first Pope in six centuries to do-citing poor health.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was the clear favorite prior to the 2005 conclave that elected Pope he after only four rounds of voting, says the BBC's Michael Hirst in Rome-a status compounded by a strong sermon given during the pre-election mass, launched a scathing attack on what he saw as the "dictatorship of relativism".
The vote for his successor is expected to be much longer.
After 10 General congregations open to all Cardinals, irrespective of age-on which 160 Cardinals talked about the problems with which the faith and its adherents 1.2 billion and the qualities that are needed for their next leader-is no clear front-runner emerged, our correspondent says.
"Last time there was a man of stature, three or four times that of other cardinal," French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin told reporters, according to Reuters news agency.
"That's not the case this time around. Therefore, the choice to be made between one, two, three, four ... a dozen candidates.
"We still don't really know nothing. We will have to wait for the results of the first round of voting. "
Cardinal Angelo Sodano-the Dean of the college of Cardinals that will lead from Tuesday and issue a mass sermon probably pick up on the themes and priorities that have been raised during the municipalities-is too old to vote on 85 and not seen as a contender for the papacy.
Candidates mentioned include Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan, Brazil contenders the Odilo Scherer, and American Cardinal Timothy Dolan-although he told an interviewer who thought he can be with a chance was "smoking marijuana".
Emphasis on secrecyOnce inside the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday, Cardinals will listen to a meditation by older Maltese Cardinal Prosper Grech before holding a first ballot, after which their ballot papers be burned.
The smoke coming from the chapel chimney early in the evening will float is probably black-which means no Pope is chosen.
By Wednesday, two votes will be held every morning and afternoon-with ballots burned after each session-until one candidate a two-thirds majority (77 votes obtains).
Then will the smoke will be white, which means the 266th Bishop of Rome have been chosen.
Extensive measures are taken to prevent details about the Cardinals discussions on the following Pope becoming public.
On Monday some 90 staff who took the cardinals during their time of seclusion-including waiters, cleaners, drivers and medical staff will support-an oath of secrecy.
The Sistine Chapel will be swept for bugs every day.
No comments:
Post a Comment