Cardinals begin conclave to elect the next pope

c. 2013 Religion News Service

VATICAN CITY (RNS) The doors of the Sistine Chapel closed behind the cardinals on Tuesday (March 12), marking the official start of the conclave that will elect the successor to Pope Benedict XVI.

    The 115 cardinal-electors walked in procession into the Sistine Chapel, singing hymns and invoking the Holy Spirit, before filing under Michelangelo's "Last Judgment" and taking a solemn oath of secrecy on everything that will happen during the conclave.