Ratzinger ahead as cardinals prepare for papal vote

CONSERVATIVE Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger has gained strong support among Catholic cardinals seeking a successor to Pope John Paul II but many of them are still undecided, a Church official said yesterday.

The German theologian, the Vatican's doctrinal watchdog for 23 years, is the front-runner, while moderates were considering a symbolic candidacy for Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, the former archbishop of Milan, the official said.

But this was only the line-up for the first round of voting, often a formality gauging strengths of different camps, rather than a sign of who might end up as pope. Voting conclaves can last several days.