More than 130 cardinals from all over the world are gathering today for the papal conclave, through which a new head of the Catholic Church is elected.
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All 133 cardinal electors who traveled to Rome are expected to enter the Sistine Chapel later this afternoon, according to the Vatican’s order of precedence for the procession.
Ahead of the conclave, Vatican experts say that no clear favorite has emerged, largely due to the unprecedented turnout that makes this the largest conclave to date.
“The sheer size and diversity of the College of Cardinals make it harder than ever to coalesce around a single strong candidate,” one expert wrote in the local newspaper Corriere della Sera, adding, “the longer the conclave stretches, especially if no white smoke appears by Thursday, the greater the chances of a surprise election.”
Some Italian outlets have named Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's 70-year-old top diplomat, as a front-runner. But conclaves, by their nature, are unpredictable.
