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Southland Roman Catholics Attend Mass Before Papal Conclave

NORTH HOLLYWOOD (CBSLA.com) — Roman Catholics across the Southland Sunday attended mass less than 48 hours before the papal conclave.

At St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in North Hollywood, CBS2's Kara Finnstrom spoke with parishioners who said they're praying for the man who will emerge as the next leader of their massive church.

"We prayed for the College of Cardinals that the Holy Spirit will inspire all of them in this election of the next pope," said parishioner Sara Grossi.

Grossi, who was born in Italy, hopes to see the white smoke rise via a television broadcast when the pope is chosen. She has been closely monitoring news coverage of these historic events.

"It must be so electrifying. Just imagine that today all 115 cardinals that are there, they all celebrated mass in the different churches in Rome. How awesome is that," she said.

Natalia Foley, another churchgoer, told Finnstrom that she plans to return to the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on the eve of the conclave for an all-night prayer vigil.

The recitation of the rosary and other prayers will take place at the church on West Temple Street every hour between 7 p.m. Monday and 7 a.m. the following day.

"I wish that it will be the next step of Catholic Church development. I believe they have so much to do," said Foley.

In Rome, Cardinal Roger Mahony has been sending social media updates about the election of the next pope.

"With our first Conclave vote set for Tuesday afternoon, all the Cardinals are praying and reviewing the biographies of all 115 Electors," Cardinal Mahony (@CardinalMahony) tweeted Sunday.

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