VATICAN CITY - The College of Cardinals met for a second day oftalks today to prepare for the conclave that will elect a successorto Pope John Paul II, and tens of thousands of mourners streamed pastthe pontiff's crimson-robed body as it lay in state in St. Peter'sBasilica.
Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said after the meetingconcluded that the cardinals hadn't yet decided on a date for theconclave, which according to church law must occur between 15 and 20days after the death of a pope.
The cardinals have not yet read John Paul's spiritual testament,he said. They spent today continuing to work out details of Friday'sfuneral, in which John Paul will be laid to rest with regal pageantrynear the tomb that is traditionally believed to be that of the firstpope, St. Peter.
Navarro-Valls said 91 of the 183 cardinals were in Rome as oftoday. Only 117 of them - those under the age of 80 - can vote in aconclave.
The Vatican also said that when a new pope is elected, the ringingof bells will accompany the traditional signal of white smoke.
Archbishop Piero Marini, master of ceremonies for liturgicalcelebrations, said the bells were being added to avoid confusion overthe color of the smoke coming from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.Black smoke signals no decision has been made, while white smokemeans a pope has been elected.
Brazilian Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo, archbishop of SaoSalvador da Bahia, told Italian state radio today that he thought anew pope would be chosen quickly.
"I don't think it will be a long conclave," he said, adding thatcardinals would have had time to reflect beforehand and shouldalready have "clear ideas" when they begin the balloting. Asked if hewas "papabile," or having the qualities of a pope, he answered, "Ihave always said my shoulders were too small for such a heavyweight."
As the cardinals met, buses unloaded huge groups of students,pilgrims and clergy who joined a line stretching for miles along thewide avenue leading to St. Peter's Square and through the streets ofthe neighborhood that surrounds the Vatican.
Civil protection officials handed out tea and croissants to thosewho had waited overnight in unseasonably cold temperatures to viewJohn Paul's body and pay their final respects. Many took photographswith cameras and cell phones.
"It's an extraordinary day," said Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone,archbishop of Genoa, who was greeting pilgrims in line today morning,flanked by a camera crew and security personnel. He said the crowdswere there "to give back to the pope all the love the pope gave tothe world."
Rome is bracing for an unprecedented flow of pilgrims - somepredict their numbers may match the city's own 3 million residents -in the days leading to Friday's funeral, which will be attended bykings, presidents and prime ministers.
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