CARDINALS are gathering in the Sistine Chapel today to take part in a secretive 1,000-year-old tradition to elect the new Pope.

Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 133 cardinals will start voting for one of their number to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.

A mass will take place in the Vatican this morning before the cardinals proceed from Casa Santa Marta to the Sistine Chapel for the election, which starts at 2.30pm UK time.

The cardinals take an oath of secrecy, facing excommunication if they disclose what occurs in the conclave, and are prohibited from communicating with the outside world until a decision is made.

The public must watch for the smoke rising from the chimney – black smoke indicates that no majority has been reached and white smoke signals that a new pope has been chosen.

The previous two conclaves lasted two days, but hopefully papal watchers won’t have to wait as long as the vote following the death of Pope Clement IV, lasted a staggering two years.

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