Who Will Vote for the Next Pope?
ROME, February 11, 2013 (Zenit.org) -
The conclave that will elect Benedict XVI's successor will have 117 members on
the day his resignation becomes official, at the end of this month.
There are 61 Europeans, 19 Latin
Americans, 14 North Americans, 11 Africans, 11 Asians and one from Oceania
among the voters. Benedict XVI will not participate in the conclave.
The country with the greatest number of
cardinal-electors is Italy, with 21. Sixty-seven of the electors were created
by Benedict XVI and the remaining 50 by John Paul II.
The conclave will proceed according to
the rules of "Ordo Rituum Conclavis," established by Pope John Paul
II's apostolic constitution "Universi Dominici Gregis."
During the time between the Holy
Father's resignation and the election of the next pontiff, Cardinal Tarcisio
Bertone, as the cardinal camerlengo, will have the fundamental role in
governing the Church.
While the conclave is ongoing, the
cardinals reside within the Vatican. They are not permitted any contact with
the outside world.
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi,
director of the Vatican press office, reported that Benedict XVI will go to the
papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo when he leaves office on Feb. 28.
After that he will reside in a cloistered monastery within the Vatican walls.