An empty papal throne lies in the Vatican's Paul VI hall before Pope Benedict XVI's Wednesday general audience.
Vatican City:
The conclave to decide the successor to Pope Benedict will start as early as March 15, the Vatican said on Wednesday.
The conclave, when cardinals gather to elect a new pope, will start between 15 and 20 days from when the papal seat is vacated on February 28, Vatican Spokesman Father Federico Lombardi told a news conference.
Pope Benedict stunned the Church on Monday when he announced the first papal abdication in centuries. Lombardi said Catholics should not be disoriented by Benedict's decision.
© Thomson Reuters 2013