The Vatican prepares

Colombian Cardinal Ruben Salazar Gomez, left, walks in St. Peter's Square after attending a cardinals' meeting, at the Vatican, March 4, 2013.

Cardinals from around the world have gathered inside the Vatican for their first round of meetings before the conclave to elect the next pope, amid scandals inside and out of the Vatican and the continued reverberations of Benedict XVI's decision to retire.

A recent image of the Vatican at night.

The Vatican said Friday that cardinals gathered in Rome to elect a new pope would begin the actual election process, known as the papal conclave, Tuesday.

In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, cardinals attend a meeting at the Vatican, March 4, 2013.

Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, of Sudan, arrives for a cardinals' meeting at the Vatican, March 6, 2013.

Cardinal Dominik Duka, of the Czech Republic, is escorted by police as he arrives for a meeting at the Vatican, March 4, 2013.

U.S. cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley listens during a press conference at the North American College on March 5, 2013 in Rome.

Canadian cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins walks on St Peter's square after a pre-conclave meeting on March 6, 2013.

Cardinal Philippe Barbarin arrives for a meeting at the Vatican, March 6, 2013.

Cardinals including Daniel Nicholas DiNardo, right, arrive for a meeting at the Vatican, March 5, 2013.

Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet holds on to his umbrella and his skull cap on a rainy day as he walks in St. Peter's Square after attending a cardinals' meeting at the Vatican, March 6, 2013.

Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet walks on St Peter's square after a meeting on the second day of pre-conclave, March 5, 2013.

Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, of Sudan, arrives for a cardinals' meeting at the Vatican, March 5, 2013.

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, of Hong Kong, walks in St. Peter's Square after attending a cardinals' meeting, March 6, 2013.

French cardinal Philippe Barbarin, center, is escorted by security as journalists surround him when leaving on his bicycle after a pre-conclave meeting at the Vatican, March 6, 2013.

Italian cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi walks in St Peter's square after a meeting on the second day of pre-conclave, March 5, 2013.

Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi arrives for a meeting at the Vatican, March 4, 2013.

Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer, of Brazil, center, is followed by compatriot Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo, left, as they arrive for a meeting at the Vatican, March 4, 2013.

The sun sets behind statues on top of the Bernini colonnade in St. Peter's Square, March 4, 2013.

Portuguese Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins chats in St Peter's square after a pre-conclave meeting, March 6, 2013.

U.S. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo listens during a press conference at the North American College on March 5, 2013 in Rome.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan arrives for a meeting at the Vatican, March 6, 2013.

Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, arrives for an interview with The Associated Press in the North American College, Rome, March 5, 2013.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, left, and Cardinal Ricardo Vidal, of the Philippines, arrive for a meeting at the Vatican, March 6, 2013.

Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun walks in St Peter's square after a meeting on the second day of pre-conclave, March 5, 2013.

Franciscan Archbischop of Boston Cardinal Sean O'Malley attends a meeting with media at the North American College in the Vatican, March 5, 2013.

Indian Cardinal Telesphore Placidus Toppo arrives for a meeting at the Vatican, March 4, 2013.

Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, talks during an interview with The Associated Press in the North American College, Rome, March 5, 2013.

An unidentified cardinal holds his skull cap as he leaves after attending a cardinals' meeting at the Vatican, March 6, 2013.

Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia, arrives for an interview with The Associated Press in the North American College, Rome, March 5, 2013.

In this photo provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, cardinals attend a meeting at the Vatican, March 4, 2013.

Cardinal Vinko Puljic arrives for a meeting at the Vatican, March 6, 2013.

Vatican Swiss guards salute as a cardinal arrives for a meeting, March 4, 2013.

Tourists walk in St. Peter's Square as the sun sets behind the statues on top of the Bernini colonnade in the Vatican, March 4, 2013.