(CNN) - Catholic cardinals could gather sooner than expected to choose a new Pope.
With the shocking news this week of Pope Benedict XVI's impending resignation, the Vatican plans to elect a new leader before Easter.
The Holy See first said that would happen between March 15th and March 19th.
Now a Vatican spokesman says a conclave could start before March 15th - if all 117 of the church's cardinals are already in Rome.
The Conclave of Cardinals will vote on a new pontiff, but that's unlikely to happen before Benedict's departure.
He's stepping down on February 28th.
