Papal Conclave to Begin March 12th

From Hot Air:

The cardinals have just announced that the date for the start of the papal conclave will be March 12th, next Tuesday:

“The eighth General Congregation of the College of Cardinals has decided that the Conclave will begin on Tuesday, 12 March 2013.

“A “pro eligendo Romano Pontifice” Mass will be celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica in the morning. In the afternoon the cardinals will enter into the Conclave.”

At least in the press office, I was literally the first person to be handed the announcement. I happened to wander over to the information table when a messenger handed me the bulletin and said something including, “Prima.” I asked a press office official to help me translate, and she informed me that I had the news first — and that I’d better do something with it, fast.

 Please bookmark!