Papal Conclave begins this afternoon

Papal conclave

by Ruth Peacock, Religion Media Centre

133 Cardinals will assemble in the Sistine chapel at the Vatican this afternoon for the start of their Conclave to elect the next Pope.  135 are under 80 years of age and therefore eligible to vote, but two are ill – the Archbishop Emeritus of Sarajevo, and the Archbishop Emeritus of Valencia in Spain. Vatican News has published the schedule for the Conclave. This morning, cardinals will attend a mass, then enter the Conclave at 3.45pm. Further information about meetings and possible times when smoke may appear over the next few days are listed as 10am, 12 noon, 5.30 or 7pm. Details here

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