New urns for papal conclave
2005-04-11 16:43
Rome - Cardinals voting for a new pope in the upcoming papal conclave will cast their ballots into three urns newly commissioned for the purpose, it was revealed on Monday.
The three urns have been cast from silver and bronze and are decorated with biblical scenes in gold plate, designed by Italian artist Cecco Bonanotte.
The use of three urns instead of the previous two is one of the reforms initiated by the late Pope John Paul II.
The cardinals, meeting in the Sistine Chapel, will cast their written votes into two urns as before.
The introduction of a third vessel is to facilitate voting by cardinals who may be confined to the Vatican's Santa Marta guesthouse owing to illness or frailty. - Sapa-dpa
- SAPA