More than 130 cardinals from across the world have gathered in the Vatican to begin the process of electing a new pontiff following the death of Pope Francis
During the voting period, the cardinals are cut off from the outside world – denied phones and access to the internet or newspapers.
They sleep and eat in Casa Santa Marta, a five-story guesthouse within the Vatican complex. The election is held in strict secrecy inside the Sistine Chapel, famously painted by Michelangelo.
Each cardinal votes for the candidate they wish to become Pope. They can vote for themselves if they wish. If any cardinals are too ill to be in the chapel, they can vote from their rooms.
A new pope is elected when a candidate has secured the support of 89 cardinals – which can take several rounds of voting.
In previous centuries, conclaves have gone on for weeks or months. Some cardinals have even died during the process.
The last two conclaves have concluded by the end of the second day.
What times are events unfolding today?
- From around 07:00 local time, cardinals started to move into rooms in the Sanctae Marthae, a guesthouse in the Vatican (some will have moved on Tuesday)
- At 10:00, they will gather in St Peter’s Basilica for a Mass
- At 16:45 the cardinals will start a procession from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel
- At around 17:30 everyone but electors must leave the Sistine Chapel – the moment “extra omnes” is pronounced marks the start of the cardinals’ isolation, and the start of the conclave
- Around 18:00, a set of smoke is released after the first ballot – and remember, you can watch the chimney by pressing watch live at the top of the page.
From Thursday morning, if a new pope is not announced on Wednesday, cardinals will have breakfast from 06:30 ahead of Mass at 08:15, before two votes are scheduled.
Previous conclaves have lasted only a few days, though in earlier centuries disagreements sometimes caused the meetings to stretch on for months.
Cardinals will take part in a Mass at St Peter’s Basilica this morning and will later walk to the Sistine Chapel to cast their votes under Michelangelo’s frescoes.
Once they enter the chapel, they will have no communication with the outside world until a new pope is elected.
Then we wait for smoke to emerge from the chapel’s chimney. If it’s black, there will be more rounds of voting tomorrow. White smoke signals that a new pope has been chosen.