Sistine Chapel closing for conclave preps

From Laura Smith-Spark CNN
POSTED: 05:17 AM MST Mar 05, 2013    UPDATED: 05:19 AM MST Mar 05, 2013 
(CNN) -

The Sistine Chapel is closing to the public Tuesday afternoon so that Catholic officials can prepare for an eventual conclave to elect a new pope, the Vatican announced.

Catholic cardinals have yet to announce when the conclave to elect Pope Benedict XVI's successor would start. On Monday they began a series of meetings designed to, among other things, decide when the conclave will begin. They were due to continue these meetings, known as General Congregations, Tuesday and Wednesday,.

The closure of the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave will be held, was scheduled for 1 p.m. local time (7 a.m. ET).

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