Conclave: How a Pope Gets Picked
Under most circumstances, a pope's reign ends with his death, which initiates a highly-scripted process that concludes when a successor has been elected. Pope Benedict XVI's decision to step down—something that had not been done in nearly 600 years—allowed for the process, which typically includes a funeral, to be somewhat expedited.
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AP
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Conclave: How a Pope Gets Picked
Scores of cardinals have descended on Rome for the conclave, or electoral assembly, to elect Pope Benedict XVI's successor. Click through for a closer look at the secretive process.
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