Cardinals begin second day of conclave

Cardinals returned to the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Wednesday to begin the second day of voting to elect a successor to Pope Benedict XVI. Despite chilly, rainy weather, crowds were in St. Peter's square, awaiting the outcome of the day's scheduled four votes, ANSA reported. Beginning Wednesday, 115 eligible cardinals -- those under age 80 -- will vote four times a day until a candidate has a two-thirds majority in the conclave, or 77 votes. The world is notified by smoke rising from the chimney on the Sistine Chapel roof -- white if a new pope is elected, black if the election round wasn't successful. Black smoke seen rising from the chimney Tuesday indicated the day's voting was inconclusive. The same result was produced on the first vote Wednesday, CBS reported. The 115 cardinals participating in conclave to elect a new pope can expect some simple but hearty meals during the conclave, ANSA said. The canteen where the cardinals dine has been preparing foods to meet differing culinary needs and habits. The secrecy of the conclave is meant to protect the cardinals from outside scrutiny as they seek divine guidance in their deliberations, The New York Times reported. While the cardinals were inside the Sistine Chapel, at least one elector's situation was in the news -- Cardinal Roger Mahony, the former archbishop of Los Angeles. Reports from California said the archdiocese, the cardinal and a former priest reach a settlement of nearly $10 million in four child sex abuse cases, the victims' lawyers said. Mahony, who retired less than two years ago as the leader of the Los Angeles archdiocese, was removed from public duties last month by his successor, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, as the church obeyed a court order to release thousands of pages of internal documents that demonstrated how Mahony shielded priests who sexually abused children. In contrast, Cardinal Keith O'Brien of Britain, said he wouldn't attend the conclave and announced his resignation last month after being accused of "inappropriate acts" with priests.