Papal conclave begins Tuesday in Vatican City
Cardinals celebrate final public Mass
The work to elect a successor to retired Pope Benedict XVI begins in earnest Tuesday, when the cardinals charged with the task gather in Vatican City for the papal conclave.
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<b>--SUPERS</b>--</p><p>:00-:30</p><p>Erin McLaughlin</p><p>Rome</p><br /><p>:30-1:02</p><p>Vatican TV (prefonted)</p><br /><p>1:06-1:08</p><p>Vatican TV (prefonted)</p><br /><p>1:08-1:14</p><p>Getty Images (prefonted)</p><br /><p>1:14-1:18</p><p>Father Tom Rosica</p><p>Vatican Spokesman</p><p>Vatican TV (prefonted)</p><br /><p>1:24-1:40</p><p>Vatican TV (prefonted)</p><br /><p>1:27-1:40</p><p>Father Tom Rosica</p><p>Vatican Spokesman</p><br /><p>1:40-1:49</p><p>Getty Images (prefonted)</p><br /><p>1:50-2:07</p><p>Erin McLaughlin</p><p>Rome</p><br /><p>
<b>--LEAD IN</b>--</p><p>It's a centuries-old tradtion shrouded in secrecy.</p><p>The papal conclave is set to begin in a matter of hours at The Vatican.</p><p>As early as this afternoon we could know who the next pope will be.</p><p>Erin McLaughlin is in Rome with the latest.</p><p>
<b>--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS</b>--</p><p>THIS MORNING THE CARDINALS CELEBRATE THE FINAL PUBLIC MASS BEFORE THE CONCLAVE. </p><p>THE WORLD IS WATCHING WHAT HAPPENS HERE TODAY. SOME 5600 JOURNALISTS ARE IN TOWN FOR THE OCCASION. </p><p>AFTERALL, WHOEVER IS ELECTED POPE WILL ARGUABLY BE ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE ON EARTH. </p><p>AND THE PROCESS TO SELECT HIM IS STEEPED IN MYSTERY. TRADITION AND PRAYER. </p><p>CARDINALS PREPARING TO EMBARK ON WHAT COULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT DAY OF THEIR SPIRTUAL LIVES.</p><p>THEY WILL ENTER THE PAPAL CONCLAVE, ELECT THEIR NEXT LEADER AND SET THE TONE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. </p><p>THE GROUP BEGAN THE DAY WITH A TRADITIONAL VOTIVE MASS.</p><p>PREPARATIONS FOR THE PAPAL CONCLAVE HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY SINCE BENEDICT XVI ANNOUNCED HE WAS RETIRING LAST MONTH. ONCE THE VOTING CARDINALS ARE SEALED INSIDE THE SISTINE CHAPEL, ALL EYES WILL BE ON THE VATICAN CHIMNEY. </p><p>BLACK SMOKE FROM BURNED BALLOTS SIGNALS AN UNSUCESSFUL VOTE.</p><p>WHITE SMOKE MEANS THERE IS A NEW POPE.</p><p>It's unlikely there would be white smoke on the first ballot.</p><p>A CONTENDER MUST GET TWO-THIRDS OF THE VOTES TO BE ELECTED PONTIFF.</p><p>ONCE THE POPE IS ELECTED HE WILL CHOOSE A NEW NAME AND BE VESTED IN HIS NEW PAPAL GARMENTS.</p><p>A new thing that has been added this year is when the cardinals and the holy father leave the Sistine Chapel, their first stop is in the Pauline chapel, where the holy father will enter alone, and pray before the blessed sacrament. </p><p>RED CURTAINS ARE HANGING FROM THE CENTRAL BALCONY AT ST. PETER'S WHERE THE NEWLY-ELECTED POPE WILL BE ANNOUNCED TO THE WORLD FOR THE FIRST TIME.</p><p>IT CAN TAKE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30 MINUTES AND AN HOUR BETWEEN THE WHITE SMOKE AND THE APPEARANCE ON THE BALCONY. </p><p>THE INSTALLATION MASS IS LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE WITHIN FIVE DAYS OF THE CONCLAVE. </p><p>
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