Conclave to elect new pope begins in Vatican

Cardinals processed into the vibrantly frescoed Sistine Chapel inside the Vatican on Wednesday to begin the conclave to elect a new pope. Their first vote to choose Pope Francis’ successor from among their number will occur Wednesday evening, the Vatican news service said.

The line of 133 red-robed cardinals chanted the Litany of the Saints and the Latin hymn Veni Creator Spiritus before entering the room around 4:30 p.m. local time. They then individually took their oaths with a hand on the gospels, promising to keep the election process secret and not to be swayed by outside influences. The master of papal ceremonies ordered witnesses to leave and then closed the chapel doors. A senior cardinal was set to deliver a private meditation before the doors would be locked and the conclave would officially begin, the Vatican news service said.

How does the election process work? The 133 cardinals qualified as electors will be sealed inside the Sistine Chapel for as long as it takes to choose a new pope. The cardinals will recite prayers and hold discussions until they settle on one candidate in a two-thirds majority vote, according to church constitutions.

Meanwhile, observers will keep their eyes trained on a chimney above the Sistine Chapel for news. If a vote is inconclusive, the chimney will emit black smoke. If a pope is elected, white smoke will appear, according to the Vatican news service. The chosen cardinal will become the new Bishop of Rome and the 267th head of the Catholic Church.

Who are the possible front-runners for pope? About 22 cardinals worldwide are considered papabili, or likely candidates for pope, by Catholic journalists and researchers at the College of Cardinals Report. Two of the most prominent conservative-leaning cardinals are Hungarian Péter Erdő and Willem Eijk of the Netherlands. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, has also been floated as a moderate successor by church observers. Cardinal Luis Tagle of the Philippines is a popular candidate among those wanting to push the Catholic church in a more liberal direction.

Dig deeper:Read Bekah McCallum’s more detailed breakdown of possible successors to Francis.