With no pope, Catholic Church leaderless for now

Faithful watch a giant screen showing Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican,Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. The 85-year-old German Pope Benedict is stepping down on Thursday evening, the first pope to do so in 600 years, after saying he no longer has the mental or physical strength to vigorously lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

Faithful watch a giant screen showing Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican,Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. The 85-year-old German Pope Benedict is stepping down on Thursday evening, the first pope to do so in 600 years, after saying he no longer has the mental or physical strength to vigorously lead the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

Nuns wait for Pope Benedict XVI to greet the crowd from the window of the Pope's summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, the scenic town where he will spend his first post-Vatican days and make his last public blessing as pope,Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

VATICAN CITY (AP) ? The Catholic Church has awoken with no leader following Pope Benedict XVI's dramatic resignation, in which he pledged obedience to his successor as a "simple pilgrim" starting the final pilgrimage of his life.

Now begins a period known as the "sede vacante" or "vacant see," the transition between the end of one papacy and the election of a new pope.

During these few days ? no more than 20 ? a few key players take charge running the Holy See, guiding the College of Cardinals in their deliberations and organizing the conclave to elect Benedict's successor.

In one of his first official acts as dean, Cardinal Angelo Sodano on Friday officially summons the voting-age cardinals to Rome to participate in the conclave, a formality given that most are already here.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-03-01-EU-Vatican-Pope/id-c8f4fc70c7b84a49916cb4713e8cf0fc

seattle mariners geraldo rivera supreme court health care joe oliver joba chamberlain new york mega millions jetblue