No front-runner as cardinals face intense selection challenge

Formally speaking, the race for the next pope doesn’t open until 9.30am on Monday, when all the cardinals who have made it to Rome by then will meet for the first time in what’s called a “general congregation”.

The agenda is to go over the rules for the looming conclave, and to talk in general terms about the issues facing the Church and the qualities the next pope will need.

The first task is to set the start date for the conclave, which many cardinals would like to see begin soon, perhaps Mar 9 or 10. Quietly, however, the campaigning is already under way and has been ever since Feb 11, when Pope Benedict XVI made his resignation announcement.