Bells rang, people cheered and many cried, as they shouted “Viva il papa!” and Benedict XVI left the Vatican to take up temporary residence at Castel Gandolfo. The question now is who will fill the red shoes? Meanwhile, the Papal apartments at the Vatican as well as the elevator to reach them have been sealed and the Popes twitter account @pontifex has been suspended.
Many of the 115 Cardinals who will help elect a new leader and help fill the ‘Empty Chair’ have descended on the eternal City. Discussions as to when a conclave will begin are currently underway and the date is expected soon.
New York’s Cardinal Dolan is being tipped by some as a favorite to succeed as Pope. However, the head of the New York Archdiocese, says he has more chance of playing for the Yankee’s than becoming Pontiff: ” I got a better chance of following A-Rod at third base for the Yankees than following Benedict XVI as the Bishop of Rome.”,
In spite of the Cardinal’s modesty, he is actually one of a dozen favorites for the successor of Peter with other candidates from Africa, South America and Canada in the running.
