Cardinals will come together Wednesday in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican to elect the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church. A total of 138 cardinals from different countries will participate in the conclave.

The conclave is being held in great secrecy. The cardinals' decision on the new pope will remain strictly confidential until the end of the voting, the new pope will be elected by a majority vote, and the candidate must receive at least two-thirds of the votes.

The election of the new pope will be announced by a white smoke from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel. A pipe has been installed above the chapel for this purpose.

The Vatican Gardens, the ancient Roman Necropolis of the Via Triumphalis, and the Sistine Chapel itself will be closed to visitors during the conclave. It is not yet known when they will reopen to tourists, as the conclave will continue until a new pope is elected.

Security measures have beefed up in the Vatican, with inspections at the entrances to areas popular with tourists and mobile phone connections have been turned off to ensure complete confidentiality of the process of electing the new pope.