All cardinals who will elect new pope arrive in Rome ahead of conclave

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa departs a general congregation meeting ahead of the conclave to elect the next pope, as seen from Rome, Italy, May 5, 2025. REUTERS/Murad Sezer

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - All of the 133 cardinals expected to take part in the secret conclave to elect a new pope have arrived in Rome, the Vatican said on Monday, with the race to succeed Pope Francis seen as wide open.

The conclave will start behind the closed, wooden doors of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday afternoon, with all cardinals aged under 80 entitled to take part to choose a successor to Francis, who died last month.