The countdown to the conclave has begun with the Catholic Church's cardinals set to hold their last congregations, two on Monday and one on Tuesday, before the election of Pope Francis's successor begins in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday.
    New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan said Sunday that he hopes the new leader of the Catholic Church will be able to blend the characteristics of the last three.
    "The characteristics I expect for the next pope are, first of all, a smile, always a smile on the face and then humility, simplicity," he said.
    "I think we are lucky because we could have a mix of the last popes, Francis, but I also think of the intellectual intensity of Benedict XVI and John Paul II with his courage and his call to follow Jesus.
    "I think that if we could combine these great characteristics of theirs it would be a blessing".

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