The cardinals, who broke for lunch and will reconvene this afternoon, are expected to continue casting ballots at the Vatican until one among them receives at least two-thirds of the vote. The release of white smoke, or fumata bianca in Italian, will signify that they've elected a pope, as will the ringing of the bells of St. Peter's Basilica.

Some have watched it in the cinema,” one cleric involved said, adding that the movie accurately portrays how the conclave works.

More than 130 cardinals from all over the world are gathering today for the papal conclave, through which a new head of the Catholic Church is elected.