Hundreds of faithful visitors wait for the new Pope in St. Peter's Square on Tuesday (March 12) in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI's successor is being chosen by the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
The conclave to elect a new pope began on Tuesday (March 12) and Catholics gathered for Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. Religion News Service photos by Andrea Sabbadini
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Dean of the College of Cardinals Angelo Sodano leads Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals began the conclave today as the suspense mounts ahead of a secret papal election with no clear front-runner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI’s historic resignation. The cardinal-electors who pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics during the conclave in the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
Visitors pray during the “Pro Eligendo Pontifice” Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on March 12, 2013 inside the Vatican. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
Guards stand nearby during “Pro Eligendo Pontifice” Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
A nun enters Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Cardinals began the conclave at the Vatican today as the suspense mounted ahead of a secret papal election with no clear front-runner to steer the Catholic world through troubled waters after Benedict XVI’s historic resignation. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
A priest offers Communion during “Pro Eligendo Pontifice” Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. RNS photo by Andra Sabbadini
A nun looks at an iPad during Mass at the St. Peter’s Basilica on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. The cardinal-electors who will pick the next leader of 1.2 billion Catholics in a conclave at the Sistine Chapel will live inside the Vatican walls completely cut off from the outside world until they have made their choice. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
Cardinals enter Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
Cardinals enter Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
Cardinals enter “Pro Eligendo Pontifice” Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica on March 12, 2013, at the Vatican. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
Guards proceed out of St. Peter’s Basilica on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
“Pro Eligendo Pontifice” Mass at the St. Peter’s Basilica on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
A view of St. Peter’s Square on the first day of the conclave (March 12, 2013) at the Vatican. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini.
Members of the Catholic community gather in front of St. Peter’s Basilica after Mass during the first day of the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Once announced, the new pope will step out onto the balcony above them. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
Members of the Catholic community and journalists gather in St. Peter’s Square after Mass during the first day of the conclave (March 12, 2013) at the Vatican. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
Members of the Catholic community gather in front of St. Peter’s Basilica after Mass during the first day of the conclave on March 12, 2013 at the Vatican. Once announced, the new pope will step out onto the balcony above them. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
Journalists prepare on the first day of the conclave in Rome on Tuesday (March 12). RNS photo by David Gibson
In preparation for the papal conclave, souvenirs line the streets and rafters are set up for journalists at the Vatican in Rome. RNS photo by David Gibson
Visitors to St. Peter’s Square watch the “Pro Eligendo Pontifice” Mass on a big screen during the first day of the conclave. RNS photo by David Gibson
Two men pray in St. Peter’s Square on the first day of the conclave (March 12). RNS photo by David Gibson
Faithful visitors, holding umbrellas, look at a giant screen showing the start of the papal conclave, under a statue of St. Peter on St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday (March 12) at the Vatican. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
Nuns in St Peter’s Square wait to find out whether the College of Cardinals have elected a new pope on March 12, 2013 in Vatican City, Vatican. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
Hundreds of faithful visitors wait for the new Pope in St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday (March 12) in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI’s successor is being chosen by the College of Cardinals in the Sistine Chapel. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
A nun takes pictures of a giant screen showing the black smoke coming out of the chimney, which means the conclave has net yet elected a new pope in the first vote of the College of Cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday (March 12) in Vatican City, Vatican. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
Media from Germany record in St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday (March 12) in Vatican City, Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI’s successor is being chosen by the College of Cardinals during the conclave in the Sistine Chapel. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
Media interview nuns in St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday (March 12) in Vatican City, Vatican. RNS photo by Andrea Sabbadini
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