The Conclave: Electing a Successor to Pope Francis

Catholic cardinals convened at the historic Sistine Chapel on Thursday to continue their mission of selecting a new pope. This comes in the wake of Pope Francis's passing, challenging them to find a leader for over 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide. Yesterday's inconclusive first ballot, marked by black smoke from the chapel's chimney, set the stage for today's decisive voting rounds.

The Vatican has outlined a strict schedule, with cardinals expected to cast their votes starting at 9 a.m. Thursday morning. Should they succeed in electing a successor to the Argentine-born Francis—who was chosen after five rounds of voting in 2013—white smoke will herald the decision as early as 11 a.m.

The conclave gathers a record 133 cardinals hailing from 70 countries, expanding from 115 cardinals representing 48 nations selected in 2013, signifying Francis's influence on the Church's international dynamics. With no clear front-runner, eyes are on Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. If neither emerges victorious, the votes may pivot to other notable papal candidates, including France's Jean-Marc Aveline and Italy's Pierbattista Pizzaballa. The potential pontiffs face a divided Church, split between adhering to tradition and embracing modern reform.

(With inputs from agencies.)