Over 130 cardinals from all over the world will gather today for the papal conclave.
The Vatican has said of this number, 108 are “novices”; who have never before taken part in the selection of a new pontiff.
Only five cardinals present voted in 2005: Philippe Barbarin of France, Josip Bozanić of Croatia, Péter Erdő of Hungary, Vinco Pulić of Bosnia, and Peter Turkson of Ghana.
The papal conclave is an age-long tradition during which a new head of the Catholic Church is installed.
The church leaders will be barred from leaving or making any contact with the outside world, until they select the next leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
When the choice is made, white smoke will billow from the Apostolic Palace.
Soon after, the next pope will appear on the balcony to wave to an expectant crowd.
While it is very unlikely the decision on Pope Francis’ successor will take quite as long or be quite as contentious, Vatican watchers agree that the winner is not a foregone conclusion.
