VIDEO: Cardinals Begin Pre-Conclave Meetings

They came, they took an oath of secrecy, and they agreed to send a message to the previous pope, whose resignation has thrown the church into turmoil and unleashed a new wave of scandals.

The cardinals meeting to choose the next pope started work Monday on planning their conclave. Benedict XVI remained holed up at the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, his temporary retirement home while cardinals pick his successor.

And in a sartorial symbol of the impending transition, a tailor on Monday unveiled three new white papal cassocks - small, medium and large - that will be sent to the Vatican so the new pope has something to wear as soon as he's elected.

Tweet

Related Stories:

• Pope Washes Feet of Young Detainees in Ritual
• Delicate Diplomacy: Pope Meets Argentine President
• Vatican Defends Pope Against What it Calls Anti-Clerical Campaign
• VIDEO: St. Thomas Students Celebrate Pope Francis
• New Style of Papacy: Pope Francis Pays Hotel Bill
• Minnesotans Pray for Pope Francis at Basilica of Saint Mary
• Vatican: Francis Won't Visit Benedict Thursday
• INTERVIEW: UST Student in St. Peter Square for Pope Announcement
• Local Reaction to the Election of Pope Francis
• WEB EXTRA: UST Expert Discusses Pope Francis