Cardinals begin long process of picking new pope
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Pope Benedict XVI blesses faithful for the last time upon arrival in Castel Gandolfo on Feb 28, 2013. With Benedict now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
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People play the bells of the Cathedral Metropolitana in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. The bells of the Metropolitan Cathedral were rung 60 times to mark the eight years that Pope Benedict XVI served as Pope. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A man rings a bell as another one stands near at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Guadalajara on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Catholic worshippers sit in the Metropolitan Cathedral in San Salvador on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A congregation attends mass at San Hipolito church in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Worshippers attend mass at San Hipolito church in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Worshippers lift up statues of Jesus to be blessed by a priest during a mass at San Hipolito church in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Worshippers carry a statue of Jesus Christ at San Hipolito church in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A priest throws blessed water at the faithful and the figures they are holding at San Hipolito church in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A woman rubs a candle that has been blessed by a priest over the eyes of a relative during a mass at San Hipolito church in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Worshippers attend mass at San Hipolito church in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Pope Benedict XVI blesses faithful for the last time upon arrival in Castel Gandolfo on Feb 28, 2013. With Benedict now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP
People play the bells of the Cathedral Metropolitana in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. The bells of the Metropolitan Cathedral were rung 60 times to mark the eight years that Pope Benedict XVI served as Pope. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A man rings a bell as another one stands near at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Guadalajara on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Catholic worshippers sit in the Metropolitan Cathedral in San Salvador on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A congregation attends mass at San Hipolito church in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Worshippers attend mass at San Hipolito church in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Worshippers lift up statues of Jesus to be blessed by a priest during a mass at San Hipolito church in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Worshippers carry a statue of Jesus Christ at San Hipolito church in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A priest throws blessed water at the faithful and the figures they are holding at San Hipolito church in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A woman rubs a candle that has been blessed by a priest over the eyes of a relative during a mass at San Hipolito church in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Worshippers attend mass at San Hipolito church in Mexico City on Feb 28, 2013. With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
VATICAN CITY (REUTERS) - With Pope Benedict XVI now officially in retirement, Catholic cardinals from around the world begin on Friday the complex, cryptic and uncertain process of picking the next leader of the world's largest church.
Some details are still unclear, owing to Benedict's break with the tradition that papacies end with a pope's death, so these "princes of the Church" will first hold an informal session before traditional rounds of talks begin on Monday.
No front-runner stands out among the 115 cardinal electors - those aged under 80 - due to enter the Sistine Chapel for the conclave that picks the new pope, so discreetly sizing up potential candidates will be high on the cardinals' agenda.
They will also use the general congregations, the closed-door consultations preceding a conclave, to discuss future challenges such as better Vatican management, the need for improved communication and the continuing sexual abuse crisis.
