Cardinals in Rome to elect new Pope

Published Monday, 11 March 2013
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Roman Catholic cardinals have gathered in Rome to begin the process of electing the new Pope - with an outcome expected before the end of the week.

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Just under two weeks ago, Benedict XVI announced he would be stepping down after eight years in office, becoming the first pope in around 600 years to resign.

The 85-year-old blamed ill health for his shock decision.

A conclave of 115 cardinals, representing the world's 1.2bn Catholics, has now assembled in Rome to elect his successor.

They will be locked in the Sistine Chapel from Tuesday to begin voting - with the first balloting to start soon afterwards.

Once a candidate achieves a two-thirds majority the new pope will be named.

UTV presenter Paul Clark, who is reporting from Rome, said: "When the cardinals go into conclave we will lose all contact with them.

"At a time when social media is everywhere they'll be completely cut off from the outside world - no mobile phones, no internet.

"The only signal will come from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and when that smoke is white we will hear the words in Latin 'habemus papam' or 'we have a pope'.

"Until then we must wait."

No clear frontrunner has emerged, with the conclave believed to be facing a decision between a pope from the developing world - Africa, Asia or Latin America - or an Italian one after the reigns of John Paul II, a Pole, and German-born Benedict XVI.

Some of the names mentioned by cardinals as possible candidates include Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Culture, Cardinal Odilo Scherer, Archbishop of Sao Paolo in Brazil, and Cardinal Angelo Scola, Archbishop of Milan.

The last conclave took two days and the election of Cardinal Ratzinger surprised few.

While the process has lasted longer than that in the past, it is widely expected that a new pontiff will have been chosen by the end of this week.

© UTV News
Comments Comments
4 Comments
Ciaran in Down wrote (68 days ago):
Hopefully the new Pope will be a lot better than the last two. No more hiding sex offenders from justice.
chidi martin osinam in cotedivoire wrote (68 days ago):
To God be the glory
kafantaris in USA, Ohio wrote (69 days ago):
What would Christ say? Be humble. This is the best way to live as tooting our own horn never works. Pride is the cancer of the self and has wrecked the life of many a man. Share with others. After our living expenses are paid, why not share the rest with those less fortunate. We can't take it with us, and it will spoil our kids more if we leave it with them. Why not give it to those we deem worthy while we still have our faculties. Show tolerance. This is not only the hallmark of a learned man but also an experienced one. Nobody is all bad or all good. In between lies humanity, but we will never find it if we don't look there. After all, this is where Christ looked and found us. This is where the Church must look also to find its lost flock. Turn the other cheek. If we were wronged revenge won't make it right -- though it might briefly feel better. But the revenge perpetuates the wrong, and from generation to generation. Why not fight the urge for revenge ourselves by turning the other cheek and stop it, there and then with us. Above all, let’s love our strange, filthy, unworthy neighbor as we love ourselves. He could use our understanding and help, though he may not deserve it. He is our brother -- unconditionally -- and we are our brother's keeper.
robert selby in belfast wrote (69 days ago):
god bless them all and good luck to are future pope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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