What’s happening today, from Paulson at the Globe:

Today all 193 cardinals and cardinals-to-be (the 178 who already have their red hats, at the 15 who are to get them tomorrow) are gathering at the Vatican’s Synod Hall for what Pope Benedict XVI has called "a meeting of reflection and prayer.”

The closed-door meeting is to begin at 9:30 a.m., about 30 minutes from now, and to run until 8 p.m. this evening. Some are comparing it to the gatherings the cardinals held daily after the death a year ago of Pope John Paul II, but before the start of the conclave. At those gatherings, cardinals spoke about a variety of issues facing the church.