The patriarch's petition to leave office rumored for months, the acceptance of Sfeir's resignation indicates an agreement on a point of contention said to be of great concern to the Holy See: that replacements for six Maronite bishops who've retired over the last year would be in place before a Synod to elect the church's next head.

On his return trip to Beirut, after presiding over the ceremony of installation of the statue of Saint Maron in the last unoccupied niche in the northern façade of Saint Peter’s Basilica, the patriarch let it be known, indirectly, that the Maronite patriarchate would not be left vacant for long. The date for the conclave of the Maronite Church to choose a new patriarch should be announced shortly in order to take advantage of the presence in Rome of the 40 or so Maronite bishops from around the world and thus spare many of them the tiring and expensive trip to Lebanon.

Under the Canon Law of the Eastern Churches, the election of a new patriarch must be completed within two months of a vacancy. On this occasion, the Maronite Church has opted for speed. The conclave to elect the new patriarch should be convened within ten days at the latest. It will be presided by the longest serving bishop in a non-stop session. The process should include three ballots. In case of a draw, the law allows for the intervention of the Holy See.

Thank you, antv, for the text of this canon. Is it still in force? Where can one find the current particular law of the Maronite Church?

Ils ont confirmé que c'est le 9 mars à 18h que débutera le conclave pour l'élection du 77e patriarche et ont appelé les maronites au Liban et dans le monde à « prier pour que les évêques trouvent l'inspiration et choisissent le meilleur successeur » à Mgr Sfeir.

Ils ont confirmé que c'est le 9 mars à 18h que débutera le conclave pour l'élection du 77e patriarche et ont appelé les maronites au Liban et dans le monde à « prier pour que les évêques trouvent l'inspiration et choisissent le meilleur successeur » à Mgr Sfeir.

I already posted this is another thread (Renounce of the Maronite Patriarch), and I hope it's not against the rules to post it here as well.

According to some newspaper link

Out of 41 Maronite bishops residing across the world, 39 are expected to attend, while heads of U.S. dioceses, bishops John Chedid and Stephen Hector Douaihy, are expected to miss the conclave because of illness.