By Mike Bush
VATICAN CITY (KSDK) - The 115 Catholic cardinals went into the Sistine Chapel Tuesday to cast their first ballots in an election to choose the next pope.
The first ballot usually gives the cardinals a better idea of who has the support to possibly become the next Holy Father.
We've been keeping a close eye this week on Cardinal Timothy Dolan of course, the St. Louisan and the man who could become pope.
Cardinal Dolan was up early Tuesday morning with the other cardinals from the United States as they made their way to St. Peters from the North American College.
We've been telling you about the North American College where seminarians from the United States come to learn in the shadow of the pope, and they take all of their college courses in Italian. More on that in the days to come, but one St. Louis seminarian, Deacon Chris Seiler, talked about Cardinal Dolan and the big presence he has at the College as a former rector.
"He was the king of the house when he was here as rector and basically when he comes back not a whole lot has changed. He's around, he'll walk up and down the halls, pop in and say hello and ask how you're doing, it's pretty amazing," said Deacon Seiler.
[Reporter]: "The St. Louis connection, he's he pretty familiar with some of the St. Louisan who are here?"
"He's very good, he knows where he's from. When I first arrived here, I had never met him before but he made it a point to meet all the St. Louis men who lived in the house. So now when he's around he says, 'Chris how ya doing?' and he slaps you on the back. It's pretty great," said Deacon Seiler.
Deacon Seiler is actually following in the footsteps of Cardinal Dolan, coming to Rome, and then he will head back to St. Louis in May to be ordained and eventually become a local parish priest.
Like all of us he's keeping a close eye on what's happening in Vatican City this week.
KSDK