Students keeping close eye on conclave

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WDTN) - The countdown has begun for choosing the next Pope.

The 115 cardinals shut themselves off from the outside world to go behind closed doors and select the Catholic Church's next leader.

On Monday, they moved into the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican where they will remain until a decision is made.

Until that happens, the world's Catholic community will be watching and waiting.

At Bishop Leibold, a Catholic Elementary in Miami Township, teachers are using the process as learning experience.

Joyce Kerschner is teaching her 8th grade religion class about the conclave. "I love passing on the tradition. I'm a history person and I love history. One of the things they are going to learn about is how did this process came into being and to me I love passing on the tradition of the Catholic Church," she said.

For many of Kerschner's students, this is the first conclave they have been old enough to remember.   

"This hasn't happened in hundreds of years, so it's a very good learning experience and very special for this to happen," added student Noah Walusis.