today about taking part in this decision. >> cardinal laveda, beforeing last year he had one of the highest ranking positions at the catzc6y vein, today, he talk e.talks about the honor and responsibility of choosing a pope and just(óoe about reports of a short list of contenders. >> i don't know what the las vegas odds makers are saying today. changes are understand every day. >> he says he's excited about the opportunity to help select a pope. cardinals are eligible to vote and the 76-year-old is researching the process you put your vote in and tellers are there. >> laveda shared his criteria. >> one needs to look for a man of faith a man of prayer. a person who has shown qualities of leadership. >> the it is not without controversy including calls for los angeles cardinal mahony to opt out. he is accused of covering up he is accused of covering up for.em mahoney should attend. >> they will be among%lc÷ 117 cardinals casting+m(bn]utz to replace a man laveda has known well since the 1980s. when ascending he selected the former san francisco archbishop

cardinal william la veda will take place. they speak with lavedao see what he anticipates will event. >>reporter: william laveda never thought he would be part . >> it's pretty challenges. >>reporter: he's focussing in seminary. at 76-year-old at former cardinal will be of 115 cardinals who will select the next leader of the catholic church. >> we'll look for a mix of things. i'll look for a younger -- a younger man who still has energy at least for awhile. >>reporter: kindergarten national laveda leaves for roam tomorrow. he needs to rekindle the faith of the catholics. >> better ways of communication, better ways of presenting the beauty of the faith. >>reporter: mike russo of saint marry's college. says the days before the conclave starts they will have informal meetings to decide what they're looking for in a new leader. >> areas of concern come up and they can actually call in experts to talk to them. this is before they go to the conclave. >>reporter: cardinal lavado says the biggest concern is. >> making a mistake. i know i've been seven yea

laveda doesn't think any cardinal from this country stands a chance. >> it would be an additional complexityor an american pope to have to deal with perception some of the decisions might be perceived to be dictated by american governmental policy. >> laveda has been friends with pope benedict since early 1980s. he chose laveda to take his spot in the congregation. laveda will have what he expects to be an emotional farewell, then, down to business at hand. the church sex abus scandal will add to the challenges the cardinalsró/i face. >> i would say it's going to be on my mind.hnwv÷ >> turning to weather, yam rilo, texas is buried under snow. second snowiest snowy record in the city. >> conditions are dangerous for the region, emergency personnel and crews are not equipped to handle the snow. right now about 1600 customers are still without power. wind gusts about 50-60 miles per hour are pushing the blankets of snow across the roads creating whiteout conditions like you can see here. authorities shut down roads and flights out of ther'n,Ñ airport. >> you know it's been chilly here but we'r

. >> reporter: but cardinal mahoney of los angeles has said he would not recuse himself from the conclave and he has the support of former san francisco archbishop lavedats for the conclave himself tomorrow. >> he is the first one to have said and apologized for the error in judgment he made as a young bishop 0. >> reporter: saturday cardinal mahoney was deposed in a lawsuit out of l.a. alleging he helped cover up now fugitive priest accused of molesting as many as 26 children in the 1980s. >> when they cover up child abuse. >> reporter: this father says while he thinks cardinal mahoney has done good, he also knows the wounds of abuse go deep. >> for them, for a sitting cardinal or a cardinal who was just recently asked to step out of any kind of public administrator, to participate in one of the most public acts that a cardinal can do is something that i think i can understand where people come from. it is a very difficult thing. >> reporter: another cardinal, keith o'brien of britain, has recused himself over accusations that he behaved improperly with other priests. he denies the accusations but said he did not want to be a distraction. cardinal mah