Benedict could stay in the summer papal residence till April or May , Vatican aide says . Guidance on the protocol for what comes next should be issued soon , he says . The cardinals could meet sooner than March 15 if they are all in Rome , Lombardi says . Pope Francis has been criticized by some conservatives and liberals alike over his handling of sexual abuse scandals within the Catholic Church.
Benedict could stay in the summer papal residence till April or May , Vatican aide says . Guidance on the protocol for what comes next should be issued soon , he says . The cardinals could meet sooner than March 15 if they are all in Rome , Lombardi says . Benedict XVI announced Monday that he will step down on February 28 .