Cardinals from around the world have today descended on Rome ahead of the secretive conclave to decide the next pope.
Among the favourites to succeed Pope Francis are are Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle.
White smoke will come from the chimney installed on the roof of the Vatican when agreement on a new Pope is reached.
In a process that has been virtually unchanged for 800 years, 133 cardinals will gather in the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel to start multiple rounds of voting and discussion to select who among them could lead the Catholic Church.
The conclave comes after the funeral of Pope Francis at St Peter’s Square on April 26th.
Pope Francis changed the Catholic Church during his 12-year papacy, taking a strong moral stance on climate change in and the plight of migrants and refugees.
He also increased the diversity of cardinals, who will now elect his successor.
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