115 Roman Catholic cardinals from around the world are currently sequestered in Vatican City for the Conclave, the gathering of the papal candidates that will determine the successor of Pope Benedict XVI, who stepped down from the post on February 28, Inquirer.net reports.

To be elected pope, a cardinal should have at least two-thirds (77 out of 115) of the total number of votes. Black smoke wafting from a chimney in the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave is held, means that the cardinals have yet to reach a decision, and they will repeat the voting on the succeeding days. The appearance of white smoke signifies that a pope has been elected. The first vote, held on the afternoon of March 12 (early morning on March 13 in the Philippines), produced no results.

The cardinals are also prohibited from communicating with the rest of the world during conclave, and they are only allowed to step out once they have decided who the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church will be, with past conclaves lasting for only three to five days. Broadcasting of the goings-on during the conclave is also prohibited.

One of the leading candidates, or papabili, is Cardinal Luis Tagle, the archbishop of Manila. Cardinal Tagle is known for his efforts to reach out the masses, not only through his actions, but through the use of modern technology.

The other papabili in the lead include Cardinal Angelo Scola of Italy, Cardinal Odilo Scherer of Brazil, and Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the United States.

(Photo by Thomas Favre-Bulle via Flickr Creative Commons)