A conclave will convene in the Sistine Chapel to choose the pope who is to succeed Pope Benedict XVI. The exact date has not yet been set. Normally, the conclave is held 15 days after the death of the pope. This conclave is expected to be held in mid-March, electing the new pope in time for Easter.
The College of Cardinals vote for the future pope. Any cardinal over the age of 80 can no longer vote. During the conclave the cardinals may have no contact with the outside world. The cardinals cast votes until two-thirds vote for the same person. There are 208 cardinals with 117 voting age cardinals.
The cardinals by country are as follows:
Europeans 61
Latin Americans 19
North Americans 14
Africans 11
Asians 11
Oceania 1
Cardinals from the United States who can vote are the following:
Raymond Burk; archbishop of St. Louis
Daniel Dinardo; :archbishop of Galveston-Houston
Timothy Dolan; archbishop of New York
Francis George; archbishop of Chicago
James Harvey; arch priest of Milwaukee, now arch priest for major basilica in Rome
William Levada; archbishop emeritus of San Francisco
Roger Mahony; archbishop of Los Angeles
Edwin O'Brien; archbishop of Baltimore
Sean O'Malley; Arch Bishop of Boston
Justin Rigali; archbishop of Philadelphia
Donald Wueli; archbishop of Washington D.C.
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