Cardinals take vow of silence over next Pope
Cardinals began “an intense period of silence and prayer” today before their conclave in the Vatican City, saying they would stop speaking publicly to protect the strict secrecy that surrounds the centuries-old tradition of choosing the next pope.
The throngs of pilgrims who attended John Paul II’s funeral yesterday flowed out of Rome, leaving mainly tourists in a quiet, rainy St. Peter’s Square. The Vatican said a decision on their calls to put John Paul on a fast track to sainthood would rest with the next pope.
