Why didn't the conclave convene prior to the date of Pope Benedict's resignation?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Melizaptl
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Melizaptl

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Hello,
Since the Pope Benedict announced the date of his resignation, why didn’t the conclave convene before then so that the new Pope could assume the official duites on 3/1?
Thanks.
 
For starters there were the basic logistics of all the Cardinals being able to get to Rome and have their dioceses set to run as smoothly as possible in their absence. Those things take some time to arrange.

The biggest issue, however, is that man who is elected Pope becomes Pope immediately upon accepting the election. Thus the election cannot take place until after the current Pope is no longer Pope.
 
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