Cardinals set to elect new pope

Cardinals will begin voting later on Tuesday, to elect a new pope with no clear frontrunner in sight.

The 115 cardinal-electors will attend a special Mass in the morning before processing into the Sistine Chapel to begin their deliberations in the afternoon.

They will vote four times daily until two-thirds can agree on a candidate.
The election was prompted by the surprise resignation of Benedict XVI.

Reports say the challenges of leading a Church beset by problems ranging from the sexual abuse scandal to accusations of corruption at the Vatican bank proved too much for the 85-year-old now known as Pope emeritus.

The dean of the college of cardinals Cardinal Angelo Sodano -  who will lead Tuesday's Mass and issue a sermon likely to touch on the themes and priorities raised during the congregations - is too old to vote at 85 and not seen as a contender for the papacy.

Candidates named as contenders include Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan, Brazil's Odilo Scherer, and the US Cardinal Timothy Dolan - though he told one interviewer anyone who thought he was in with a chance might be "smoking marijuana".

GBC