Conclave to Decide Next Pope to Start after March 15: Vatican

NDTV
February 13, 2013

http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/conclave-to-decide-next-pope-to-start-after-march-15-vatican-330430

An empty papal throne lies in the Vatican's Paul VI hall before Pope Benedict XVI's Wednesday general audience.

Vatican City: The conclave to decide the successor to Pope Benedict will start as early as March 15, the Vatican said on Wednesday.

The conclave, when cardinals gather to elect a new pope, will start between 15 and 20 days from when the papal seat is vacated on February 28, Vatican Spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told a news conference.

Pope Benedict stunned the Church on Monday when he announced the first papal abdication in centuries. Lombardi said Catholics should not be disoriented by Benedict's decision.