New DH calendar
Article updated: 2/16/2013 5:42 PM

Vatican raises possibility of early conclave

Buy this photo Buy this photo
Gallery Image

Pope Benedict XVI shakes hands Saturday with Italian Premier Mario Monti during a private audience at the Vatican.

Associated Press/ the Vatican paper L'Osservatore

About this Article

The 15 to 20 day waiting period is in place to allow time for all cardinals who don’t live in Rome to arrive, under the usual circumstance of a pope dying. But in this case the cardinals already know that this pontificate will end Feb. 28, with the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI.

Related Content

Pope blesses huge crowd in St. Peter’s Square