Cardinals arrive for final pre-conclave meeting
- 11 years ago
(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)
Cardinals began arriving at the Vatican on Monday (March 11) for a final day of talks before entering the conclave to elect a new pope - the balloting process is due to start on Tuesday (March 12).
They 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.
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.
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.
No conclave ha
Cardinals began arriving at the Vatican on Monday (March 11) for a final day of talks before entering the conclave to elect a new pope - the balloting process is due to start on Tuesday (March 12).
They 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.
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.
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.
No conclave ha