CARDINALS from around the world have descended on Rome ahead of the secretive conclave to decide the next pope.
Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are among the favourites to succeed Pope Francis ahead of the Papal Conclave, which begins on Wednesday.
It would be "unexpected" if the conclave goes past Friday, Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, archbishop of Algiers, told ABC News at the Vatican on Tuesday.
“If on Friday night, the pope is not elected, it will be that something unexpected has happened,” Vesco said.
The selection process to replace Pope Francis will be done in secrecy via voting.
Deriving its name from the Latin term cum clave, meaning "with a key," the completion of the conclave is famously signalled by plumes of smoke rising over the Vatican.
Black smoke means voting is still in process, while white smoke means the new leader of the Catholic church has been chosen and has accepted his role.
There is no timeline for the decision − Pope Francis was chosen in one day in 2013, while the election of Pope Gregory X in 1271 took three years.
Throughout the week, pilgrims and journalists have flocked to St. Peter's Square, as cardinals held closed-door meetings to discuss church issues and the qualities they want to see in the next pope.
The pilgrims sing sacred hymns, while the journalists try to corner cardinals for clues about their papal preferences. - May 7, 2025
