Cardinals to Gather in Sistine Chapel

“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.