Cardinals from across the world gather in the Vatican to elect new pope

Cardinals from across the world are gathering in Rome to elect the next pontiff following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday.

We don’t know how long this process will take — previous conclaves have lasted only a few days, though in earlier centuries disagreements sometimes caused the meetings to stretch on for months.

Cardinals will take part in a mass at St Peter's Basilica this morning and will later walk to the Sistine Chapel to cast their votes under Michelangelo's frescoes.

Once they enter the chapel, they will have no communication with the outside world until a new pope is elected.