133 Cardinals Gather at St. Peter’s Basilica for Mass Ahead of Conclave to Elect Successor to Late Pope Francis

Cardinals have gathered inside St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican to celebrate a final Mass ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope.

This Mass precedes the start of the formal process to choose a new leader of the Catholic Church, following the death of Pope Francis on April 21 at the age of 88.

Presiding over the Mass is Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, who is leading prayers for wisdom, guidance, and discernment as the 133 eligible cardinals prepare to enter the Sistine Chapel later in the day to cast their first votes.

The College of Cardinals, representing 70 countries, will be responsible for selecting the next pope to lead the Church’s 1.4 billion followers.

During the conclave, cardinals will be completely isolated from the outside world, surrendering their phones and operating under strict communication restrictions enforced by electronic jamming around the Vatican.

No pope has been elected on the first day of a conclave for centuries, so the voting process could extend over several days before one of the red-hatted princes of the Church secures the required two-thirds majority to become the 267th pontiff.

Only one ballot will be held on Wednesday, after which the cardinals may vote up to four times daily.

Black smoke emerging from the chapel’s chimney will indicate an inconclusive vote, while white smoke accompanied by the ringing of bells will announce that the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church has chosen a new pope.