Extraordinary Process News Today

This is a mass of the pope and this is what begins the process of the conclave for the cardinals. the conclave goes back to the 1200s. its a secret process. but its watched the world over, certainly the 1.2 billion catholics who are waiting their new leader. but it all has to begin with the mass. the homily today, that has already been given was given by the dean of the cardinals, angelo sodano. hes 85 years old. this is the last message that all these cardinals receive together before they get ...

Deliver that reform. >> edward, lets end with you before we go back to john and zoraida. how expected is the mood of the church right now to see some type of change in quotes, because who knows what it will mean? >> i dont know. ive been a priest for a long time and havent seen this buzz in a very long time. i have parishioners e-mailing me, who do you think will be the pope? will there be change? so, there is a lot of expectation and hopefully the holy spirit is a large part of this. >> john, f...

P.m. eastern or so, we may see smoke rising out of that chimney from the sistine chapel for the first time. nobody expects it to be white smoke today. chris? >> reporter: all right, thank you, miguel. well be coming back to you all morning. and as youre seeing, there will be a picture of the ongoing mass. the cardinals are all going up, presenting themselves at the altar as they get ready to begin their mass. this is a process that they lean very heavily on their faith. the expectation is that g...

What preceded it just as important, ten general congregations where the cardinals got together to debate. each one had an opportunity to speak, if they wanted it, and there were lunches and meetings where they would discuss what mattered and who may be the next leader. its an interesting question, because it is technically a nonpolitical process. so, how does a cardinal position themselves to be pope? its difficult, to say the least. lets go to miguel marquez, whos with us watching all the event...

Back to north korean to visit his friend, kim jong-un. >> i dont condone what he does, but hes my friend. >> do you anticipate going over there again? >> yes, i will, in august. >> you are going over there? >> yes, im vacationing, yes. >> so, his visit a few weeks ago came at a time of heightened tension between the u.s. and north korean over pyongyangs pursuit of a nuclear program. the stakes are even higher now when during yesterdays interview, rodman insisted that the north korean leader does...

Americans. im going to tell you, this is kind of good news. i cant wait to share it. >> excellent. and on day one of the papal conclave, morning mass being celebrated right now ahead of the first secret ballots for a new pope. look at the majesty of this process right there, happening live. "early start" back right after the break. ♪ [ female announcer ] from meeting customer needs... to meeting patient needs... ♪ wireless is limitless. [ female announcer ] from finding the best way... ♪...

Says to the disciples, it was not you who chose me but i who chose you. it reminds the cardinals that they need to be listening to what the lords intentions are. >> what about the peoples intention? the flock? because at the end of the day, this is really service to those people. and i think that maybe is part of the problem in the secrecy, that at the end of the day, who you serve doesnt necessarily have a voice here. >> well, i think, i hope that what happened last week in all of the general c...

Its a point of focus for them. once the cardinals leave, as zoraida was saying, theyll have their lunch. then theyll begin the conclave. secret procedure. conclave means with a key. because this all started as a way of motivating, to use the word gently, cardinals so select a pope. under lock and key. now the process has gotten much more gentle. dont worry about the ambulances. theres a hospital right near here. so ambulances move through throughout the day. not a sign of any kind of emergency. ...

6,500 seats can fit into this particular chapel where theyre having it, so people there on display, the last chance for the public to be in contact with the cardinals before they begin what they see as their sacred duty. now, john, today does begin the conclave. they will have one vote today, somewhat of a beginning, right, not supposed to be definitive, obviously? >> yeah, thats right, chris. technically, the rules dont apply to them to have a vote tonight, but i think we all expect they will d...

Group, and really see what the trends are looking like. so there could be 12, 13, 14, 15 or 30 cardinals who garnish any votes in this first ballot. >> walk us through that process, will you, of who actually counts the ballots? how does that all happen? >> the cardinals will actually choose, if theyve not already done so, a series of nine cardinals who will assist in the ballot counting process. there will be three who are essentially the tellers who will open the ballots, they first count them ...