Members of a Toronto choir are headed to Rome where they will have a chance next month to meet and perform for Pope Benedict XVI's successor.

The St. Michael's Choir School is celebrating its 75th anniversary and is sending students in its choir abroad as part of that celebration.

Some 187 students from the school in downtown Toronto will be heading to Rome at the start of next month, at which point a new pope is expected to have been selected.

The retirement of Pope Benedict, who is now known as the emeritus pope, has triggered the Roman Catholic Church’s need to find a successor.

His decision to retire is the first time in almost 600 years that a pope has stepped down.

School director Stephen Handrigan said that the students will head overseas at a time when "the eyes of the world will be on Rome in April," just after the new pope has been chosen.

Being in Rome at that historic time, Handrigan said "is actually going to be very exciting."

Click on the video above to see a special report on the choir and its upcoming trip.

With files from The Associated Press and The Canadian Press