Cardinals Arrive at Vatican for Final Pre-Conclave Meeting

City News Toronto
March 11, 2013

http://www.citynews.ca/2013/03/11/cardinals-arrive-at-vatican-for-final-pre-conclave-meeting/

Firefighters place a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, where cardinals will gather to elect the new pope, at the Vatican on March 9, 2013. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cardinals began arriving at the Vatican on Monday for a final day of talks before entering the conclave to elect a new pope.

The balloting process is due to start on Tuesday.

The cardinals are expected to discuss the state of their Church which was left reeling by the abdication last month of Pope Benedict and struggling to deal with a string of sexual abuse and corruption scandals.

“So today is really a day where the cardinals are coming together for a meeting, they’re having more prayer and reflection in their very great responsibility for the rest of the week,” Kim Daniels, the Director of Catholic Voices USA said.

Officials at the Vatican began preparing for the conclave and the election of a new pontiff last week. On Monday, curtains could be seen hanging on the balcony at the front of St Peter’s Basilica, where the newly elected pope will address crowds for the first time.

St Peter’s Square was bustling with tourists on Monday, many hoping to still be in the city when the new pope is elected.

“It is very interesting. I am just happy that our vacation happened to fall on line with when they were going to have conclave,” said American tourist Greg Gerber.

“I just want him to be good to people, I would like him to help people, I would like him to help poor people. That is the most important. We are in a crisis situation in many places around the world,” Spanish tourist Laura Placencia said.

The 115 cardinal electors under the age of 80 will enter the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday afternoon and hold one vote that evening. They will vote up to four times a day thereafter until one of their number receives a two-thirds majority, or 77 votes.

If a pope is not elected in two or three days it means that cardinals are probably severely divided and might have to turn to a dark horse candidate to find consensus.

No conclave has lasted than more than five days in the past century. Pope Benedict was elected within barely 24 hours in 2005 after just four rounds of voting. But this time, no clear favourites have emerged to take the helm of the troubled Church.