Cardinals in Pauline Chapel, Conclave Rites Begin

Vatican City: The 133 cardinal electors who will pick Pope Francis’s successor have arrived in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace. From here, their procession will begin to the Sistine Chapel where, after the “Extra Omnes” (Everyone Out) order is given, the conclave for the election of the new pope will begin.

According to Ansa News Agency, the cardinals will vote once Wednesday, and the first smoke signal will be emitted from the Sistine chimney at around 7 pm. It is expected to be black, indicating that no pope has been elected. If white, the 267th heir to St Peter and new leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics will have been chosen.