Voting will take place in the Sistine Chapel, with ballots continuing in succession until any candidate secures two-thirds of the available votes.If no clear choice has emerged after three days, balloting is suspended for 24 hours to allow cardinal electors time to reflect.

Hundreds of people watched on giant video screens and waited for the first puffs of smoke to learn whether a pope had been elected or not.

With all the pomp, drama and solemnity that the Catholic Church can muster, 133 cardinals began the centuries-old ritual to elect a successor to Pope Francis, celebrating a morning Mass on Wednesday before opening the most geographically diverse conclave in the faith’s 2,