As many as 250 Catholic cardinals gathered in the Vatican ahead of the start of a conclave Wednesday afternoon to elect a new pope, with the result from the first round of voting expected within hours.

The cardinals have gathered in Vatican City to choose the 267th pope. St Peter, regarded as the first pope, was elected around 30AD. In the morning, cardinals will take part in a mass in St Peter’s Basilica. Later, in the afternoon, the cardinals will walk in a procession along the Via delle Fondamenta to the Sistine Chapel.