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| | Between pope's death and papal election |
 | | Three cardinals, chosen by lot at the start of a conclave, to oversee conclave balloting by any cardinal-electors who are too ill or infirm to sit through the conclave sessions in the Sistine Chapel. |
 | | Some of the dean's main jobs are to notify the diplomats at the Vatican and heads of state when the pope dies, call the cardinals to Rome, preside at their daily meetings before the conclave, administer their oath of secrecy, and convene and preside at the conclave. |
 | | Three cardinals, chosen by lot at the start of a conclave, to recount and verify each round of balloting for the election of a pope, whether a pope has been elected on that ballot. |
| www.americancatholic.org /Features/johnpaulii/transition/deathandelection.asp |
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