Tourists and pilgrims visit St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, just days after Pope Benedict XVI's stunning announcement that he is resigning from this position.<br/> <br />Here at St. Peter's Square the pope is expected to deliver his final public mass during the traditional Ash Wednesday service.<br/> <br />Who will be leading such events after Benedict is now the source of much speculation.<br/> <br />Half of the cardinals who could be selected to become the new pope are from Europe.<br/> <br />Leading contenders include Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan, and Christoph Schoenborn from Vienna.<br/> <br />But many think that this time a non-European will be selected for the post that was once reserved only for Italians.<br/> <br />Latin America represents over 40 percent of the world's 1-point-2 billion Catholics, the largest single block in the church.<br/> <br />A Brazilian German and an Italian Argentine are seen as the leading Latin American candidates.<br/> <br />While Peter Turkson from Ghana is often tipped as Africa's frontrunner.<br/> <br />When the eventual successor is chosen by the conclave of cardinals, their decision will be announced with the release of white smoke from a chimney in the Sistine Chapel.
