Conclave could possibly start earlier - Vatican

February 18, 2013 - The Vatican has said that the conclave to choose the successor to Pope Benedict XVI could start before March 15 if enough cardinals are in Rome to elect him. At a press briefing on Saturday, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said Church rules which regulate the timing of conclaves could be "interpreted" differently this time because of the unique circumstances of Pope Benedict's historic resignation. He had said earlier that the conclave would start between March 15-20 according to existing rules. But on Saturday he said that events could move more quickly since the Church was dealing with an announced resignation and not a sudden papal death. The Jesuit priest said the Camerlengo, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and his collaborators are already preparing for the Sede Vacante or the Empty See, after Pope Benedict’s resignation comes into effect on Feb. 28 evening. He said that in the coming days, probably even before the end of the current pontificate, one could expect the initial information regarding the conclave. Fr. Lombardi also stressed that the Pope was not abandoning the Church in times of difficulties and urged the faithful to trust in God and in the next Pontiff. "Benedict is not abandoning us in times of difficulty," Fr. Lombardi said in his weekly editorial for Vatican Radio. "With confidence, he is inviting the Church to trust in the Spirit and in a new successor of St. Peter."