VATICAN CITY
CBS News
[with video]
(CBS News) The world’s cardinals want to begin the job of choosing a new pope as soon as possible, according to a well-placed Vatican source.
The newest guessing game in Vatican City is how soon the conclave will begin. By both law and tradition, the cardinals can’t talk openly about it until one day after Benedict officially leaves office.
Pope Benedict XVI officially steps down Thursday.
A major issue plaguing the cardinals through the selection process will be the sex abuse scandals. But they must be dealt with, in the view of U.S. Cardinal James Stafford, who is too old to vote in the conclave.
“If it means to be despised, which in many ways it does mean, then we accept that,” Stafford told CBS News’ Allen Pizzey.
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