Media from across the globe flocked to the Vatican's St Peter's Square on Wednesday (May 7), the day Roman Catholic cardinals will begin the task of electing a new pope, Reuters reports.
As well as the usual faithful and tourists who regularly flock to the Vatican, journalists too are excited about the direction of the Catholic Church, Filipino journalist Korina Sanchez Roxas said.
A record 133 cardinals from 70 countries will enter the Sistine Chapel later on Wednesday to start their secret conclave for a successor to Pope Francis.
No clear favourite has emerged, although Italian Pietro Parolin and Filipino Luis Antonio Tagle are considered the front-runners.
No pope has been elected on the first day of a conclave for centuries, so voting could continue for several days before one of the red-hatted princes of the Church receives the necessary two-thirds majority to become the 267th pontiff.
There will be only one ballot on Wednesday.
Thereafter, the cardinals can vote as many as four times a day.
Black smoke from a chimney on the roof of the chapel will mark an inconclusive vote, while white smoke and the pealing of bells will signal that the 1.4-billion-member church has a new leader.
