All Cardinals Who Will Follow The Conclaves Wednesday Tomorrow Have Arrived In Rome

Illustrations of the Cardinals preparing to enter the Sistene Chapel for the Pope's election. (Flickr: Jeffrey Bruno)

JAKARTA - A total of 133 cardinals are planned to follow the conclave to elect the new Pope to arrive in Rome, Italy, the Vatican said on Monday.

The konclaf will start behind a closed wooden door of the Sistina Chapel on Wednesday afternoon local time, with all cardinals under the age of 80 entitled to take part in choosing a replacement for Pope Francis who died last month.

Several cardinals will look for a Pope who continues the transparent and friendly breakthrough of the late Pope Francis. Others seek a more traditional Pope and prioritize doctrine.

The konclaf often lasts for several days, with several votings held before a candidate wins the majority of the three-quarters required to become the Pope.

Catholic cardinals around the world have met almost every day since the day after Pope Francis died on April 21 to discuss the condition of the 1.4 billion-member church, with the number of those participating gradually increasing.

The Vatican said 180 cardinals, including 132 electors, took part in the meeting on Monday morning. The 133rd Elector was also in Rome, but did not take part in the discussion.

Two cardinals, one from Spain and one from Kenya, will not join the conclave for health reasons, the Vatican said.

Among the questions raised on Monday were "strong concern" about divisions within the Church, a Vatican spokesman said, likely referring to a split over Fransiskus' decision to allow blessing for same-sex couples and to open discussions about the role of women in the Church.

Last January Pope Francis explained that the Vatican document on the blessing of same-sex couples said it was not the approval of the lifestyle that the Church considered to be potentially guilty, but for individuals who want to get closer to God.

The cardinals also discussed the profile of future Pope candidates, "a figure that must be present, close, capable of becoming a bridge and guide. A herder who is close to the real life of the people," said the spokesman.

Although there are some cardinals who are seen as the leading candidates to replace Pope Francis, the two names that are often referred to are Cardinal Pietro Parolin of Italy and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, many owners of voting rights have not made a decision.

"My list is changing, and I think it will continue to change over the next few days," British Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who participated in his first conclave, told Reuters.

"This is a process that for me is far from over, far from over," he added.

The cardinals will hold a second session of talks on Monday afternoon, with the final round expected on Tuesday. Two Vatican guest guest guest homes will accommodate the cardinals during the conclave, when they will be barred from contact with the outside world.

German Cardinal Walter Kasper, who is 92 years old and unable to participate in the vote, said he believed the electoralists would choose someone to continue Fransiskus' progressive agenda.

"I believe there is very clear hope. People want a whale to follow Francis. A Pope who understands the language of the heart, who does not close himself in the palace," Cardinal Kasper told La Stampa newspaper.

"Of course, there are also cardinals who expect change of direction with respect to Francis. But my impression is, the majority of cardinals support sustainability," he added.