to do. also a frightening security breach for big names in entertainment and politics. how the most private financial information may have ended up in a very public place. and on top of that, saving time. we ll introduce you to a man whose craft is clocks. why he says daylight saving time boosts his business. very interesting story actually. first, an historic day at the vatican. more than 100 cardinals will enter the sistine chapel and only one will emerge as the next pope. the selection gets under way in the next few hours. 77 votes needed for final approval. marci gonzalez reports from the vatican. reporter: st. peter s basilica beamed before the backdrop of darkness. some hefty bedtime prayers are being said by 115 cardinals. they re thinking about what they re going to do, solemn duty. they swear before god to make a decision that they think is best for the church. reporter: after mass they
paul. the vatican confirmed one miracle attributed to him. curing a french nun afflicted with parkinson s disease. now, if the church can verify a second miracle, he ll be sainted. as they solemnly march into the sistine chapel, naming the saints one by one, and asking for their prayers. not necessarily asking for miracles, but as they make this momentous decision, certainly looking for friendly help from above. david wright, abc news, rome. so back in the 13th century they actually were looking for a miracle as far as finally selecting a pope came. they had to lock them in. it took three-plus years. so, they locked the cardinals in and then they took the roof off wherever they were con gra gated so they could finally come up with a decision. oh, wait a minute. we may have a winner. then they turned all the lights off. i decide it s rob already.
americans. they re talking cardinal o malley of boston in particular. i was asked about cardinal o malley by my cab driver on the way from the airport three days ago. and i think what it comes down to is they the americans have you know, this is a time of scandal. we face a lot of crisises on multiple fronts in the church and americans have a reputation for managerial efficiency and the americans also have experience in managing reform in the wake of crisis, in our case, the sexual abuse crisis. and so i think because of those reasons and also because of the fact that pope benedict has done something unprecedented and t n then and, therefore, opened the door to the unprecedented, people are thinking about the possibility of a north american. i think the chances are still remote, but father, let me just step in and ask you real quick, about ten seconds left, if you had to
no matter who is chosen as the next pope, he faces major challenges. the vatican is still under pressure to reveal more about failure to protect children from abusive priests. and the new pope has to restore discipline to the scandal plagued vatican. father thomas reese covers the vatican for the national catholic reporter. the last two papacies we elected the smartest man in the room. brilliant theologians. maybe it is time to elect some one who listens to all the other smart people in the room. someone who brings together all these people who work together on the common problems facing the church. there s also the challenge of those, particularly here in the u.s. and in europe, who say they have no religion at all. i read an article pointing out some of the little secrets of the conclave, some of the behind-the-scenes stuff. this i found fascinating. no one s ever refused. if you get elected you don t say, no thanks, guys. you take it. so many new popes are overcome question
post poll, an overwhelming number of american catholics disapprove of the church s handling of the sex abuse scandals. in addition to criticism shared worldwide of the secretive and allegedly corrupt vatican banking system. what is it the church needs? where does the church need to go? reporter: one thing is certain, the race is wide open with all eyes on that chimney. josh elliott, abc news, vatican city. now, as we said, the conclave is carried out in total secrecy. and the 90 or so support staff in fact took a solemn oath yesterday to uphold that tradition. even the head of the swiss guards and the vatican police were sworn not to reveal what goes on inside that chapel. here is what we do know about how the ancient process works. the voting may begin right away. up to four times a day until two-thirds of the cardinals agree on a name. they write their choices on paper ballots which are eventually burned. black smoke from the burned ballot papers means no pope. white smoke mea