Conclave live: Cardinals begin secret vote to choose new Pope as crowds watch for smoke from Vatican
Cardinals have handed in their mobile phones and taken oaths of secrecy as they begin the secret Conclave to decide the next Pope.
The Papal Conclave began with a mass in St Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning, with senior cardinal Giovanni Battista Re praying for the cardinals to be enlightened to choose “the Pope our time needs”.
Soon, standing before Michelangelo’s famous vision of heaven and hell in the Sistine Chapel, the 133 cardinals will swear to carry out the solemn duty of selecting a new leader of the Catholic Church.
Then, the work of debating and voting on who among them could lead will begin.
Signal jamming devices are in place, as are thousands of police and Swiss Guards, to protect the cardinals and the secrecy of their deliberations.
White smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney later on Wednesday will signal the cardinals have already found a successor for Pope Francis, who made liberal changes to the Catholic Church during his 12-year papacy.
Black smoke means no decision has been reached, and the Conclave will continue.
