Thousands Fill St. Peter's Basilica As Start Of Conclave Nears

Thousands Fill St. Peter's Basilica As Start Of Conclave Nears

Posted: Updated:
Thousands filled St. Peter's Basilica as they await the start of Tuesday's papal conclave. Thousands filled St. Peter's Basilica as they await the start of Tuesday's papal conclave.
VATICAN CITY -

It was no ordinary Sunday in Vatican City, as thousands of people filled into St. Peter's Basilica to await the start of the papal conclave.

Beginning Tuesday, the 115 cardinals will go behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel and won't come out until they've elected a new pope.

The iconic chimney is now in place, where white smoke will inform the world that the cardinals have made their choice.

Black smoke indicates there is no candidate.

Though there is no clear front runner, 61 of the cardinal candidates are European, and before stepping down, Benedict XVI increased the number of Italian cardinals.

It could also be the first time a pope who is not European is elected.

There is also a chance the new pope could be an American. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, is considered a contender.

Conclaves in recent history have been shorter and many believe a new pope will be elected within about two days.

However, a vote covered in secrecy and backed by centuries of tradition can be hard to predict.

FOX 29's Iain Page is in Rome to bring you coverage of the selection of the new pope. We'll take you behind the scenes and cover all the angles of selecting a new pope on FOX 29 News.

  • Local News

  • Friday, May 24 2013 10:26 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:26:18 GMT
    Philadelphia Police are looking for a man that sexually assaulted a teenage girl in Germantown.Police say the incident happened just before 11P.M. on May 19th on the 6000 block of Wister Street.The suspect
    Philadelphia Police are looking for a man that sexually assaulted a teenage girl in Germantown.
  • Friday, May 24 2013 10:01 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:01:49 GMT
    Kasey's bark may be worse than her bite. But Hamilton Township Police say the crook who tried to rob Draper Ellis late Thursday afternoon at his "May's Landing Auto Parts Store" didn't stick around
    A South New Jersey business owner comes face to face with a suspected robber threatening him with a knife. Thanks to his 7-year-old family pet, the crook ran off.
  • Friday, May 24 2013 7:08 PM EDT2013-05-24 23:08:04 GMT
    Busy planning your cook-out or trip down the shore this Memorial Day Weekend? Don't forget about the men and women for whom the holiday is observed.
    Busy planning your cook-out or trip down the shore this Memorial Day Weekend? Don't forget about the men and women for whom the holiday is observed. FOX 29's Bruce Gordon spent a day with folks preparing a veterans' cemetery for its day in the spotlight.
Powered by WorldNow

WHBQ-TV | Fox 13
485 S. Highland St.
Memphis, TN 38111

Main Station: (901) 320-1313
Newsroom: (901) 320-1340

Didn't find what you were looking for?
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Fox Television Stations, Inc. and Worldnow. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Ad Choices