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| Cardinals Discuss ‘Hopes and Expectations’ of New Pope | Cardinals Discuss ‘Hopes and Expectations’ of New Pope |
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| VATICAN CITY — Cardinals gathering to choose a pope to replace Benedict XVI held a third day of speeches and discussions on Wednesday on their “hopes and expectations” for his successor, but made no formal announcement of a date for their traditional secret balloting to choose a new leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics. | |
| Since Benedict resigned on Feb. 28 — the first pope to undertake such a step for centuries — cardinals, the so-called princes of the church, have been gathering in this city state to formulate their views on his successor at the so-called general congregation, a preliminary to the papal voting at a conclave. | Since Benedict resigned on Feb. 28 — the first pope to undertake such a step for centuries — cardinals, the so-called princes of the church, have been gathering in this city state to formulate their views on his successor at the so-called general congregation, a preliminary to the papal voting at a conclave. |
| It is not yet clear when they will set a date for the ballot. | It is not yet clear when they will set a date for the ballot. |
| Six days before his resignation took effect on Feb. 28, Benedict issued an order allowing the conclave to begin sooner than the 15 to 20 days usually required if a pope dies. Many cardinals have been hoping to return to their home dioceses in time for Holy Week, which begins this year on March 24, Palm Sunday, followed by Easter Sunday on March 31. | |
| The pre-conclave gatherings, offering the cardinals a chance to make a case for the kind of pope they want, and to size one another up at coffee breaks and shared meals, began on Monday with 103 of the 115 cardinals eligible to vote in attendance along with older prelates. | The pre-conclave gatherings, offering the cardinals a chance to make a case for the kind of pope they want, and to size one another up at coffee breaks and shared meals, began on Monday with 103 of the 115 cardinals eligible to vote in attendance along with older prelates. |
| That number reached 113 by Wednesday, according to the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman. The remaining two cardinals from Poland and Vietnam are expected by Thursday. | That number reached 113 by Wednesday, according to the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman. The remaining two cardinals from Poland and Vietnam are expected by Thursday. |
| Voting at the conclave, held in the Sistine Chapel, is restricted to cardinals under age 80. But scores of cardinals over 80 also took part in the general congregation held in a separate part of the Vatican. The total number attending the preliminary meeting is 153, Father Lombardi said. | Voting at the conclave, held in the Sistine Chapel, is restricted to cardinals under age 80. But scores of cardinals over 80 also took part in the general congregation held in a separate part of the Vatican. The total number attending the preliminary meeting is 153, Father Lombardi said. |
| The conclave usually begins with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and a procession to the Sistine Chapel, followed by one round of voting in the afternoon. | The conclave usually begins with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and a procession to the Sistine Chapel, followed by one round of voting in the afternoon. |
| The voting then proceeds in rounds of two in the morning and two in the afternoon, for a total of four a day, or until a pope is chosen. The winner needs a two-thirds majority, which in this case will be 77 votes if all the expected 115 electors participate. | |
| So far in the pre-conclave meetings, 51 speeches have been made, 18 of them on Wednesday, as prelates discussed the profile of what the next pope should be, Father Lombardi said. The cardinals also resolved to meet again on Thursday afternoon. | So far in the pre-conclave meetings, 51 speeches have been made, 18 of them on Wednesday, as prelates discussed the profile of what the next pope should be, Father Lombardi said. The cardinals also resolved to meet again on Thursday afternoon. |
| The prelates’ work is being led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Sodano, the former No. 2 to Benedict and Pope John Paul II before him. Under his leadership, they agreed earlier to hold a public prayer service in St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday evening and sent a message expressing their gratitude to Benedict at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer home, where he is staying for the next few months. | The prelates’ work is being led by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Sodano, the former No. 2 to Benedict and Pope John Paul II before him. Under his leadership, they agreed earlier to hold a public prayer service in St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday evening and sent a message expressing their gratitude to Benedict at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer home, where he is staying for the next few months. |
| In one sign that the conclave is approaching, workers on Tuesday barred tourists from the Sistine Chapel. They will erect a wooden platform to protect the floor, install the stoves used to generate the smoke indicating whether a pope has been selected — white smoke signifies that the choice has been made — and set up tables and chairs for the red-hatted prelates. | In one sign that the conclave is approaching, workers on Tuesday barred tourists from the Sistine Chapel. They will erect a wooden platform to protect the floor, install the stoves used to generate the smoke indicating whether a pope has been selected — white smoke signifies that the choice has been made — and set up tables and chairs for the red-hatted prelates. |
| No conclave since the early 20th century has lasted more than five days. In 2005, Benedict was elected in less than 24 hours. The conclave that chose his predecessor, John Paul II, began on Oct. 14, 1978, and ended two days later with his election on Oct. 16. | No conclave since the early 20th century has lasted more than five days. In 2005, Benedict was elected in less than 24 hours. The conclave that chose his predecessor, John Paul II, began on Oct. 14, 1978, and ended two days later with his election on Oct. 16. |
Daniel J. Wakin reported from Vatican City, and Alan Cowell from London | Daniel J. Wakin reported from Vatican City, and Alan Cowell from London |