Conclave for New Pope Begins With Faithful Seeking Direction
Faithful gather in St Peter's Square ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope at the Vatican on May 7.
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Roman Catholic cardinals from across the globe entered the Sistine Chapel to choose a new pope, who will set the moral compass for the Church’s 1.4 billion faithful and become a reference point for much of the world.
The closed-door election, known as a conclave, began Wednesday when the 133 elector cardinals were locked into the chapel to begin the voting process aimed at finding a successor to Pope Francis, who died in April. They will have no contact with the outside world and will not be allowed to leave until they reach an agreement.