The Catholic Church's College of Cardinals announced Wednesday that it will begin the secret conclave to choose a successor to Pope John Paul II on April 18.

The cardinals will be sequestered in the Sistine Chapel during the conclave as they decide on the new pope.

Between now and April 18, the focus at the Vatican will be the arranging for the final good-byes to the late pope. John Paul II's funeral is expected to draw more than one million people to Rome as the many people touched by the pope will come to pay their last respects.

Thursday, John Paul II's last spiritual testament will be published by the Vatican. It is a 15 page document written over the course of his papacy.

There are 116 cardinals who will be voting on the next pope. A two-thirds majority is needed to select the next pope. White smoke coming from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel means a new pope has been elected, black smoke means no candidate has received the necessary two-thirds majority. The white smoke will now be accompanied by bells so that there is not any confusion as to the results of the vote.