The head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Dominican Republic, Archbishop of Santo Domingo 75-year old Nicolas de Jesus Cardinal Lopez Rodriguez traveled to Rome yesterday, to prepare for electing the pope who will replace Benedict XVI, who stepped down from his duties yesterday, 28 February. Cardinal Nicolas Lopez Rodriguez will take part in the conclave with 115 cardinals from around the world who have the right to vote for the new pope. A first meeting will be held on Monday for the election of the three bishops who will lead the conclave to select a successor to Pope Benedict XVI. Lopez Rodriguez will return to the DR at the end of March. In his absence, the head of the church in the Dominican Republic will be Monsignor Amancio Escapa.
The new pope will be elected at a time when several voting Cardinals have been criticized for failing to remove priests accused of sexually abusing children.
www.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/world/europe/now-gathering-in-rome-a-conclave-of-fallible-cardinals.html?pagewanted=all
www.eldia.com.do/nacionales/2013/2/28/108341/Lopez-Rodriguez-viaja-hoy-a-Roma-para-el-conclave