How to watch the conclave from the U.S.? Schedules, live streaming and everything you need to know

Papal Conclave live online: vote for new Pope today | Latest updates on Vatican smoke signal decision

Catholic cardinals will enter a conclave on Wednesday to pick a new pope with little clear idea of who will emerge as Pope Francis’ successor.

The 133 cardinals will hold daily meetings to discuss issues facing the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church before the conclave, when they will be sequestered in a hotel and barred from contact with the outside world.

Conclaves are often spread out over several days, with multiple votes held before a contender wins the necessary three-quarters majority to become pope.

The most recent conclave, the 2013 election of Pope Francis, took about 24 hours and five ballots before he received the necessary majority.

The cardinals are banned from communication with the outside world but all major U.S. television networks will have teams outside the Vatican City as the conclave unfolds.

Updates on the selection process are issued via the famous Sistine Chapel chimney. When black smoke is emitted a new Pope has not yet been chosen, but white smoke indicates that the next pontiff has been elected.

Then, a representative of the College of Cardinals appears on the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and says, in Latin, ’Habemus papam’, or “We have a pope.”

The critically acclaimed Oscar nominated film Conclave portrays the process to select a future pope and offers some insight to the process.

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