In the footsteps of the cardinals

  • 11 years ago
The conclave at the Vatican...

These are the footsteps the 115 cardinals will take on Tuesday ... in one of the world's oldest and most secret forms of election -- selecting the next pope.

The cardinals come from 48 countries, with Italians making up the biggest single national bloc.

They will be banned from communicating with the outside world - meaning no phones, television or Internet.

They will start their meeting at 4:30 p.m. in the Sistine Chapel,

The cardinals will cast their first vote Tuesday. From Wednesday they will vote twice each morning and twice each afternoon. To win, a candidate needs a two-thirds majority, or at least 77 votes.

The ballots are burned and smoke pours from a makeshift chimney above the Sistine Chapel.

Black smoke marks an inconclusive vote; white smoke and the sounding of the bells signals a pope has been elected.

If the cardinals will have not picked someone by Saturday to don the papal robes and shoes .

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