Vatican City, Mar 9, 2013 / 13:02 pm
An overwhelming majority of the College of Cardinals agreed on holding the conclave March 12 because the Sistine Chapel and St. Martha House needed more time to be ready for it.
Vatican press office director Father Federico Lombardi told journalists March 9 that the chamberlain of the College, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, updated the cardinals on the status of preparations needed to begin the conclave, which effectively ruled out an earlier date.
At the March 8 evening session, the "overwhelming majority" of the 145 cardinals voted to hold the conclave on March 12. The vote was the first thing on the agenda for the 5:00 p.m. meeting.
During their Saturday morning session the cardinals drew lots for rooms at the St. Martha House where they will be staying during the conclave. The house is located just behind and to the left of St. Peter's Basilica inside the Vatican and during non-conclave times people who work in the Vatican live there.