Early Start's new website
Why the first vote in the papal conclave is so important – Msgr. Richard Hilgartner explains
As the Cardinals wrap up a special mass at the Vatican for the election of a new pope, “Early Start” is joined by Monsignor Richard Hilgartner, the Head of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat on Divine Worship.
Cardinals from every corner of the earth will take an oath of secrecy to begin the election process for the next leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics. Then, the eyes of the world will be on the copper chimney above the Sistine Chapel. While a vote is expected to take place today, it’s all but guaranteed that black smoke will billow instead of white, indicating an inconclusive vote. Monsignor Hilgartner explains the significance of the first ballot and how the voting process works.
Msgr. Hilgartner says the first vote helps to officially establish the names of potential candidates. Prior to today, the cardinals “only talked about broad concepts of issues and concerns. They really don't know who they're voting for until that first ballot is cast and they start to read off the ballots, and they see,” Hilgartner says. “Then they really see the consensus, the sense of the group, and really see what the trends are looking like.”
Tensions reach breaking point between North and South Korea – Anna Coren reports
Saber rattling rose to new levels Monday on the Korean Peninsula as Pyongyang officials "scrapped" the armistice credited for nearly 60 years of uneasy peace and then failed to answer a hotline phone.
"The Korean Armistice Agreement is to be scrapped completely just from today," said a spokesman for the North Korean military - the Korean People's Army Supreme Command - according to Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of North Korea's ruling Workers' Party.
North Korea cited the U.N. Security Council's unanimous passage Thursday of tougher sanctions against Pyongyang for carrying out missile and nuclear tests.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's Anna Coren reports from outside the Korean demilitarized zone on the escalating tensions.
READ MORE: As rhetoric heats up, North Koreans ready to 'rain bullets on the enemy'
MYB: VantageScore overhauling credit scoring model
Zain Asher is minding your business with a report on a new credit scoring system from VantageScore that could help millions of people. "Essentially, it’s gonna be more forgiving to anybody who is seriously in debt or has no credit history in this country.”
Currently, seven out of ten financial institutions use VantageScore, Asher reports. “But the bottom line is, you can't really control which scoring system your financial institution's going to be using,” she says. "So, you still have to make your payments on time.”
Buzz, excitement as papal conclave to select new pope begins – John Allen & Father Beck weigh in
Today, 115 cardinals from around the world will take an oath of secrecy and begin voting for the next spiritual leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. This morning, cardinals are holding a special mass for the election of the Holy Father. It is the final event open to the public featuring those cardinals.
At 10:45aET, they are scheduled to leave their residence at Casa Santa Marta and head to the Pauline Chapel. They will then enter the Sistine Chapel to officially begin the process of conclave as the world awaits their decision.
Chris Cuomo reports live from Rome for CNN's special coverage of the selection of the next pope. Senior CNN Vatican Analyst John Allen and CNN Contributor Father Edward Beck join him with their analysis of today’s proceedings.
Father Beck explains what makes the mass so special. “With all we've been hearing about the politicking of how a pope gets elected, this is the most important part, in that you are coming to the highest form of worship that we have as a Catholic Christian community,” he says.
The Cardinals are expected to take one vote today, though the rules technically do not require them to do so. Allen offers a reason for that expectation.
“The consensus is there is no clear front-runner. The Cardinals don't know where one another stand,” Allen says. “It's the first chance to get a sense of where things actually stand and which candidacy might have legs.”
Actress Valerie Harper diagnosed with rare form of brain cancer – Elizabeth Cohen breaks it down
Actress Valerie Harper, best known for her days on the hit shows "Rhoda" and The Mary Tyler Moore Show has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called that's affecting her brain. CNN Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen explains exactly what her rare condition is and what Harper is facing.
“This is not a tumor,” Cohen says. Loose cells in Harper’s spinal fluid are affecting her meninges, or the covering over the brain. "There are not a lot of great treatments for this," Cohen says.
CNN is told Harper is receiving chemotherapy. Doctors say "chemotherapy in this case, isn't really done to prolong life," but will help control pain and seizures for the time being, Cohen says. It may prolong life by a few weeks, but not by a lot. “She was told by her doctors [she has] about three months,” Cohen says. “It’s really a terrible, terrible form of cancer.”
Meanwhile, Harper is staying strong, appearing on talk shows to raise awareness about her illness with some inspiring words.
Delhi rape suspect dies in jail, family suspects foul play – Sumnima Udas reports
One of the men accused of gang raping and fatally beating a woman on a New Delhi bus was found dead in his jail cell Monday.
Police say Ram Singh hanged himself. But his lawyer and parents claim he was murdered.
"There was no reason for him to commit suicide. There is some foul play," Singh's attorney V.K. Anand said.
Singh was housed in New Delhi's Tihar Prison. Last year, the prison recorded 18 deaths, including two suicides, according to CNN affiliate CNN-IBN.
CNN's Sumnima Udas reports on the latest in the story on "Early Start" this morning.
READ MORE: India rape suspect found dead in jail cell. Police say suicide; parents allege murder
6 teens killed, 2 injured in SUV crash into pond – Shannon Travis reports
Six teenagers were killed and two other people were injured when the SUV they were in struck a guardrail, turned over and went into a pond, officials said.
The single-vehicle accident took place near Warren, in northeastern Ohio, on Sunday morning, according to Lt. Anne Ralston of the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
The teens, age 14 to 19, were traveling in a Honda Passport.
Shannon Travis reports the latest on "Early Start" this morning.
READ MORE: 6 teens killed, 2 injured when crash sends SUV into pond
Monsignor Rick Hilgartner: Many would say papal conclave is about politics, but also a very spiritual moment
In just 24 hours, the world could potentially have a new pope. Starting tomorrow, 115 Roman Catholic cardinals will walk from their home away from home—the Santa Marta residence at the Vatican—to the Sistine Chapel for conclave. That walk will be taken twice a day, every day, until they elect a new pope.
Monsignor Rick Hilgartner, head of U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat on Divine Worship, talks with John Berman on “Early Start” on the upcoming conclave. He explains the conclave's tradition, the ceremony, the secrecy, the preparations and more. He will be joining “Early Start” all week as we watch conclave unfold.
One day out until the voting begins, Monsignor Hilgartner discusses the process and the feeling in Rome today among the cardinals. "Many would say it's all about politics at this point," Monsignor Hilgartner says, "but I think it's important to remember that they also recognize that this is a very spiritual moment." Once the doors close and conclave begins, he says it’s less about politicking and “more about prayer as they each in silence write their votes.”
MYB: Who benefits from the surge in the stock market? Zain Asher explains
Zain Asher is minding your business this morning with the latest in the rally in stocks. Stocks are opening up at record highs this morning after the Dow closed at a new all-time high on Friday.
While the current market offers a huge wealth opportunity for investors, a study shows not everyone is making gains from this rally. The younger generation is set to make the highest returns. “So people between the ages of 25 to 34, they’re gonna have a more aggressive mix of stocks in their portfolio,” she says. “They are gonna benefit from this rally the most.”
Preparations for papal conclave underway in Rome – Miguel Marquez reports
Preparations, both spiritual and practical, neared completion at the Vatican on Monday, where Roman Catholic cardinals will gather to begin the process of selecting the next pope.
The conclave - the secret papal election - begins Tuesday in the Sistine Chapel, which has been closed to the public while Vatican staff readied the ornately decorated vestry for deliberations.
The first public signs of preparations appeared over the weekend as workmen scaled the roof of the chapel on Saturday to install the chimney which will release the black or white smoke that signifies whether a new pope has been elected.
This morning on "Early Start," CNN's Miguel Marquez reports live from Rome on the final preps before the first vote in the papal conclave.
READ MORE: Cardinals huddle one last day before conclave to elect new pope begins
On Twitter
