“The conclave to choose the next pope is set to begin Wednesday, with cardinals from around the world gathering in the Vatican to partake in the centuries-old tradition,” the Washington Post reports.
“Cardinal electors will withdraw in the afternoon to the Sistine Chapel to pray, deliberate and cast votes in a secret ballot. They will remain sequestered until the new leader of the Catholic Church is selected.”
“When a successor to Pope Francis is chosen by at least a two-thirds majority, a billow of white smoke from a purpose-built chimney will announce the moment to crowds amassed in St. Peter’s Square and more than a billion Catholics around the world.”
Playbook: “Gloriously, it takes as long as it takes. Could be a couple of days; could be a couple of years. And every ballot paper is burned, and every cardinal sworn to secrecy. Can you imagine the conversations happening inside that room?”
CNN: Here’s how it will unfold.

