VATICAN CITY - Catholic cardinals from around the world began preparing for a conclave to elect a new pope on Friday, a day after Benedict XVI became the first pontiff to resign in 700 years telling the world he would be a “pilgrim” on life’s last journey. Letters were due to be sent later Friday inviting the cardinals to take part in meetings next week that will set the date for a conclave under Michelangelo’s frescos in the Sistine Chapel. The meetings - known as “general congregations” - will also be a way of vetting possible candidates to be leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics at a difficult time for the Church. The conclave is to start in the first half of March.
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