The cardinals of the Catholic church get down to the business of setting a timeline for selecting a new spiritual leader.

St. Peter’s Square in Rome was unusually quite yesterday. Since the resignation of Pope Bendict there was no one to give the weekly blessing.

Cardinals are meeting today to discuss a number of issues. The most important is to decide when to hold a conclave to elect the next pope.

One of the contenders is said to be Quebec’s Marc Cardinal Ouellet. In an interview on the CBC, Ouellet says he is ready if his fellow cardinals decide he should be the next pope. Ouellet says he feels another choice would be better, but all  the cardinals know when they enter the conclave, they have to be prepared to accept election.

Ouellet is currently a senior official in the Vatican.