The race to replace Pope Benedict XVI has begun. Four days after the 85-year-old officially took off his papal robes, more than 100 cardinals from around the world gathered inside the Vatican Monday for the first round of meetings before the conclave to elect the next pope. Greeted by a swarm of hungry reporters, the cardinals seemed excited about Benedict’s replacement. “A Latin-American pope is possible, everything is possible!” a Portuguese cardinal told TV crews. Preparations for the conclave will include closing the Sistine Chapel and making sure the Vatican hotel is debugged.
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