Holy Mass for election of a new Pope as Conclave prepares to meet – who are the main candidates to succeed Pope Francis?

Holy Mass for the Election of a new Pope is being celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, at St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of the entry of cardinal electors into the Conclave in the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday.

Since 1059, the Cardinals who make up the special College have been the exclusive electors of the Pope.

At present there are 252 Cardinals worldwide. This number includes the former leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Seán Brady.

However, Cardinal Brady, having already reached the age of 80 is ineligible to elect the Roman Pontiff or to enter the Conclave.

In total 135 Cardinals meet the criteria to be electors but the maximum number of Cardinals that will have the right to elect the Roman Pontiff is limited.

Any baptized Catholic male is eligible to be elected Pope, however, Pontiffs have traditionally been selected from among the College of Cardinals.

Once the conclave has elected a new Pope the ballots of the Cardinals will be burned and the sending white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.

His Reverend Eminence Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, will announce the name of the newly elected Supreme Pontiff to the people declaring habemus papam (we have a Pope).

Speculation is mounting over who will replace Pope Francis as the head of the Catholic Church. Among those whose names have been mentioned is Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, a Dubliner who until a new Pope is elected has effectively been responsible for the administration of the Catholic Church.

Irish-American Cardinals Seán Patrick O'Malley, Raymond Leo Burke and Timothy Dolan have also been tipped as potential candidates.

Below, in pictures, are some of the front-runners with some biographical detail from the Holy See.

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