The 133 cardinals who will vote — all those aged under 80, minus two who are absent for health reasons — will gather on Wednesday afternoon under the frescoed splendour of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.
More than 180 “Princes of the Church” met behind closed doors in their seventh meeting since Pope Francis died on April 21, to discuss what they want from the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
The Church’s 252 cardinals were recalled to Rome after the Argentine’s death, although only 135 are eligible to vote in the conclave.
In the past few days, the pontiff has made one surprise appearance after another, most recently turning up in St Peter’s Square following mass for Palm Sunday, where he shook hands, blessed babies and waved to the crowds.
Mwanzo Tv News
