Thousands flock to pray for 'right person' as next pope

Cardinals attend the special mass to elect Supreme Pontiff presided over by German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City Monday. Roman Catholic cardinals began a special mass Monday to invoke God's guidance before they convene in secret later in the day to elect a successor pope to John Paul II. PHOTO: AFP

"I really want an Italian," said Mario Colonna, a Roman pensioner, adding that he was hoping to see Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, former archbishop of Milan, or his successor Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi picked by the 115 cardinals who start the secret deliberations of the conclave Monday afternoon.

"Because the Church in Rome represents the whole world, it is natural that he be an Italian," he said.

But his daughter Gilda disagreed. "If he represents the whole world, he doesn't need to be Italian. I want the Brazilian, to help the children there," she said, referring to Cardinal Claudio Hummes, archbishop of Sao Paolo.

Ten-year-old Francesca di Giansante said she was afraid the next pope would be African. "At school they said that if a black pope is elected, the sun will crash on Earth and it will be the end of the world."

Her mother has told her this was nonsense, but Father Martin of Germany, also attending the mass, noted that it would be difficult for Europeans to accept a non-European pope.