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News/International

Members of the media preview the Sistine Chapel as preparations continue for the conclave March 9 at the Vatican. Cardinal electors will enter the chapel in the afternoon March 12 to begin the conclave to elect the new pope.

Global challenges await successor to Benedict

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VATICAN CITY - Like the rest of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, including the 5,100 bishops and 412,000 priests, the Pope exercises what the Catechism of the Catholic Church calls his "baptismal priesthood" by participating in "Christ's mission as priest, prophet and king."

Tourists, locals stake out spot where cardinals gather for meetings

Tourists, locals stake out spot where cardinals gather for meetings

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VATICAN CITY - Everyone is curious about the cardinals.

Cardinals gather on a side balcony of St. Peter's Basilica as they await the public introduction of the new pope in this April 19, 2005, file photo. German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected the 265th pope and chose the name Benedict XVI.

Cardinals recount conclave experience

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VATICAN CITY - Chanting the Litany of the Saints, asking a host of holy men and women to help them, the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel in procession, aware of their enormous responsibility to elect a new pope.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, center, waves as he arrives for the fourth day of general congregation meetings in the synod hall at the Vatican March 7.

Cardinals need time to talk before conclave, spokesman says

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VATICAN CITY - When 115 cardinal electors gather in the Sistine Chapel for the conclave to elect a new pope, they will be praying and voting four times a day.

The fisherman's ring -- the pope's signet -- is seen on the right hand of Pope Benedict XVI as he celebrates Mass in Havana, Cuba, March 28, 2012. When a pope dies or resigns the ring is destroyed in a special ceremony, usually carried out in private.

Ring of retired Pope Benedict no longer can be used as seal

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VATICAN CITY - When Pope Benedict XVI officially stepped down from office Feb. 28, his wardrobe changed -- right down to the ring on his finger.

A notice announcing the closure of the Sistine Chapel is displayed outside the Vatican Museums in Rome March 6. The Sistine Chapel will remain closed to the public from March 5 for the papal conclave.

Sistine Chapel goes from tourist magnet to polling place for pope

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VATICAN CITY - The Sistine Chapel's transformation from a world-famous tourist site to the prayer-filled space where cardinal electors will choose the next pope is under way.

Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, smiles as he arrives for a general congregation meeting in the synod hall at the Vatican March 6. The world's cardinals are meeting for several days in advance of the conclave to elect the new pope.

No conclave date, but cardinals develop 'profile' of new pope

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VATICAN CITY - Although by March 6 the world's cardinals had not set a date to begin the conclave to elect a new pope, they had begun discussing "the profile" required of the next pope to meet the needs of the church, the Vatican spokesman said.

President Hugo Chavez waves to supporters after casting his vote in Venezuela's 2008 election. Chavez, the socialist president who transformed Venezuela while acting as chief protagonist in what was one of the worst Catholic Church-government relationships in Latin America, died March 5. He was 58.

Venezuelan president changed nation, had rocky relations with bishops

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SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - Hugo Chavez, a socialist president who transformed Venezuela while acting as chief protagonist in what was one of the worst Catholic Church-government relationships in Latin America, died March 5. He was 58.

Francis E. George of Chicago, Donald W. Wuerl of Washington and Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, arrive for a general congregation meeting in the synod hall at the Vatican March 5. The world's cardinals are meeting for several days in advance of the conclave to elect the new pope.

Cardinals discuss needs of church but don't set conclave date

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VATICAN CITY - After completing their third pre-conclave meeting, the College of Cardinals still had not announced a date for the conclave. Instead, they used the March 4 and 5 meetings to discuss needs of the church.

Black smoke rises from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel April 18, 2005 signaling that the cardinals had taken their first vote for a new pope, but the vote was not conclusive.

Papal checklist: a holy teacher and preacher

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VATICAN CITY - French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, 69, president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, is the “proto-deacon” of the College of Cardinals and will be the one, at the end of the conclave, who will announce to the world, “Habemus papam” (“We have a pope”).

Cardinal Keith O'Brien of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, Scotland, arrives for a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in this Nov. 21, 2010, file photo. Cardinal O'Brien, 74, announced Feb. 25 that he will not participate in the conclave to elect Pope Benedict XVI's successor.

Scottish cardinal admits to acts of sexual misconduct

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MANCHESTER, England - Less than a week after his retirement was announced, a Scottish cardinal has admitted to past acts of sexual misconduct.

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