Secrecy and intrigue: The Papal conclave begins
In a historic gathering steeped in intrigue, cardinals from six continents today open their first conclave of the new millennium to elect a pope who will inherit John Paul II’s mantle and guide the world’s 1.1 billion Roman Catholics into a new era.
Representing 52 countries, the 115 crimson-robed ”princes” of a church stung by priest sex-abuse scandals and an exodus of the faithful were to celebrate a midmorning Mass at St Peter’s Basilica before sequestering themselves in the Sistine Chapel at 4.30pm local time (2.30pm Irish time).
