Dominican Republic’s Cardinal off to Rome to tap Pope

Santo Domingo.- Dominican Republic’s Cardinal is off to Rome today where he’ll immediately join his 115 colleagues eligible to elect the new Pope to replace Benedict XVI.

Santo Domingo archbishop Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez, 75, will form part of the College of Cardinals, who’ll be convened Saturday for the first meeting slated for Monday, prior to the elective conclave.

Lopez Rodriguez is slated to return later this month, after he takes part in the next Pope’s first activities in the Vatican.