From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

What are the prospects for a Vatican Spring?

Hello again, I'm Arn Alney, and this is To the Poet from Public Radio International.

The daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Pope Emeritus Benedict has left the Church of Rome coping with sex abuse, financial corruption, and the role of

women. The Vatican has confirmed wiretaps on its own officials, and Benedict is being publicly

criticized, unthinkable during his years of infallibility. His unprecedented resignation raises

a profound question for the

conclave of Cardinals. Will the next Pope be vulnerable to pressure to step down? We'll hear demands

for reform from American nuns and sex abuse victims and update today's developments in Rome.

On reporter's notebook later on, an upcoming battle on climate change. First, here's the news.

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Program Fund. Hello again, Wormin-Lony, back with To the Point. Even before they start

selecting the next Pope, the College of Cardinals has plenty

to talk about, with sex abuse, financial scandal, and the role of women creating demands

for institutional reforms. We'll look at the process of making history for one of the world's

oldest religious institutions. On reporter's notebook, the president nominated new cabinet

members today, including the head of the EPA, will that lead to a major

confrontation over coal plants and climate change? First, this news update. After Kenya's last

presidential election in 2007, evidence of vote rigging produced ethnic clashes that killed more

...