The papal conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor begins Wednesday. 133 cardinals, the most ever, will vote in the Sistine Chapel. Voting will occur twice daily until a two-thirds majority is reached, with black smoke signaling continued voting and white smoke indicating a new pope. While the process could take days, some cardinals predict a short conclave, possibly concluding by Friday. Top contenders include Pietro Parolin, Luis Tagle, and Robert Prevost.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.