Papal Conclave Begins Tomorow
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NBC26 Live at 5:00 Video by nbc26.com
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GREEN BAY - The process of picking a new pope begins on Tuesday.
All 115 cardinals have arrived at the Vatican ahead of the papal conclave. More than 1 billion Catholics around the world be waiting on their decision.
"We haven't had a conclave go more than four days since 1831. so if they go more than four days, they're in trouble," said Father Thomas Reese, an analyst for National Catholic Reporter.
Sister Ann Rehrauer with the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay says the ideal pope would be someone who has had experience as a pastor -- an administrator with a sense of the global church.
"The church is universal," she said. "It's not just in Italy -- or, for us, it's not just in the United States. And it's not simply understanding the language, but the culture of all the peoples who make up this wonderful church that we have."
Many are asking if the next pope should be more of a manager to clean up the Vatican, or a minister to help inspire the faithful.
"Jesus would make the perfect Pope, but Jesus is not available right now -- so they're going to look for someone who has as many of these characteristics as they can now," Rehrauer said.
Until that someone is chosen, millions across the world will anxiously await the first sign of smoke from the Sistine Chapel. Black smoke means there is no decision, while white smoke means the cardinals have decided who the 266th pope will be.
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