LITTLE ROCK (KATV) - As of Tuesday, a Pope has not been selected by the 115 cardinals who have locked themselves inside the Sistine Chapel. Tuesday, they sent up black smoke, indicating that during the first ballot, they did not make a decision. Voting will resume Wednesday morning.
The process will continue until they have a 77 vote majority to select a new pontiff. When white smoke billows from the Vatican that will mean the next Pope has been selected.
Bishop Anthony B. Taylor will celebrate a special Mass in Little Rock at the Cathedral of St. Andrew Tuesday, March 12, at 6 p.m. as the cardinal electors begin the conclave to elect the next leader of the 1.2 billion- member Catholic Church.
Catholics in Arkansas have been invited by Bishop Taylor to join the worldwide church in prayer for the Holy Spirit to guide the 115 voting cardinals in their selection of the next pontiff.
Following Pope Benedict XVI's announcement Feb. 11 that he was resigning effective Feb. 28, Bishop Taylor said, "Let us pray for the College of Cardinals, that under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit they will choose for us a worthy successor well equipped to address the complex challenges we face in the world today."
Additional resources on the papal election can be found on the Diocese of Little Rock's website.
The Cathedral of St. Andrew, located at 617 Louisiana Street, is the oldest church building in the city of Little Rock with continuing worship.
