Speculation and excitement grow in Rome as papal conclave prepares to choose next pope

The cardinals have arrived, the finishing touches are being made; Vatican City is preparing for an election like no other.

On Wednesday, the papal conclave begins and many visitors to St Peter's Square already have a clear view on what they would like the outcome to be.

"I want a liberal pope," says Joyce who has travelled to Rome from the US.

"My number one is Pierbattista Pizzaballa," says blogger Teodorita Giovannella referencing the 60-year-old Italian cardinal.

Rome resident Michele Rapinesi thinks the next pope will be the Vatican's secretary of state, Pietro Parolin, who was Pope Francis's number two.

Although the job of selecting the next pontiff lies with 133 cardinal electors, Ms Giovannella and Mr Rapinesi are among 75,000 Italians playing an online game trying to predict who they'll pick.

Fantapapa is a similar format to fantasy football, but teams are made up of prospective pontiffs.

Ms Giovannella has chosen three popular Italians as her favourites: Cardinals Pizzaballa, Zuppi and Parolin.

After 47 years she wants an Italian pope but believes an Asian or African would be a good "plot twist".

Despite the growing speculation and excitement, for the cardinal electors the papal conclave is the serious and sombre process of choosing the next leader of the Catholic Church and its 1.4 billion followers.

To keep the vote secret, they are locked in the Sistine Chapel which has been swept for hidden cameras, recording equipment and bugs.

The windows are covered to keep the outside world out and to stop drones from spying.

Mobile phones are banned and signal jammers have been installed to help stop any information being leaked.

Ballots are burned after they are cast and a plume of coloured smoke shows people if a new pope has been chosen.

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The cardinal who is elected will become one of the most powerful men in the world and will set the course for the Catholic Church for years to come, making decisions which will affect the lives of millions of people worldwide.

Pope Francis's 12-year reign pulled the church in a more progressive direction.

His fight for migrants and climate change made him a muse for Roman street artist Mauro Pallotta.

He met him five times and painted more than 30 pictures of him, celebrating his life on the walls of Rome.

One shows Francis with a catapult shooting out hearts.

"It depicts the strong love he had for people," Mr Pallotta explains.

In another, he wears a cape and is depicted as a superhero.

"I hope the new pope continues the way of Pope Francis and remembers the poor people of the world," he says.

Whether the next pontiff is another pope of the people, a progressive or conservative will soon be decided by the cardinals.

Their choice will determine if the Catholic Church continues down the route set by Francis or takes a different path.

(c) Sky News 2025: Speculation and excitement grow in Rome as papal conclave prepares to choose next pope