The 133 eligible cardinals have entered the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday afternoon to elect a new Pope. According to the usual procedure, the result of the first voting round will be announced through the chimney of the chapel: white smoke indicates the necessary two-thirds majority for a new Pope, while black smoke marks the failure to achieve such. Later in the evening, the first smoke is expected.

Before that, the last great Mass before the beginning of the Conclave was held in St. Peter’s Basilica. The service was conducted by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re.