Benedict may issue document on conclave rules
Lombardi does not rule out changes to enable early start
20 February, 15:31
(ANSA) - Vatican City, February 20 - Pope Benedict XVI may
issue a document on the rules of the conclave to elect his
successor before he steps down as pontiff, Vatican spokesman
Father Federico Lombardi said Wednesday.
Lombardi said Benedict may issue a 'motu proprio', a
document that popes can use to make minor changes to Church law
or procedure.
The spokesman did not rule out the possibility that the motu
proprio would concern changes so that the conclave could take
place earlier than mid-March.The Vatican initially said that the conclave would not take place until 15 to 20 days after Benedict leaves the position on February 28, in accordance with Church rules.
But at the weekend Lombardi said the conclave may start earlier, given that the pope has not died, but has quit.
Many cardinals are already in Rome and they have begun informal talks about what sort of person the next pope should be.
"I don't know whether he (Benedict) will deem it necessary or opportune to provide clarifications about the issue of when the conclave starts," said Lombardi.
Brochure: 
