Lower thirds:

00:02 File March 2013
00:08 Report by Jonathan Crane
00:56 Joshua McElwee | Reuters Vatican correspondent
01:12 Philip Pullella | Former Vatican correspondent
01:54 File March 2013

Script:

00:01 ((Date insert: March 2013))

The world's waiting for white smoke -- the signal a pope has been chosen.

But before the faithful glimpse the new pontiff, first comes a highly secretive process -- a conclave.

It takes place behind closed doors, in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel.

The red-cloaked cardinals are responsible for electing a new pope.

00:22
While there are more than 250 of them worldwide, only those under the age of 80 are allowed to vote.

This means 135 cardinals are eligible to take part in the conclave -- though a handful may not attend due to sickness.

The process will start with a special mass at St. Peter's Basilica.

After that, the majestic Sistine Chapel is locked down -- conclave is Latin for "with key" -- with cardinals guided only by the Holy Spirit.

00:56
SOT Joshua McElwee, Reuters Vatican correspondent
They are to have no communication outside the conclave. They're not supposed to use their cell phones. They're not supposed to read the newspapers. They're not supposed to be in any sort of contact with the outside world.

01:10
The cardinals will vote four times per day; a two-thirds majority is needed for a successor to be chosen.

01:12
SOT Philip Pullella, Former Vatican correspondent 
Each of the cardinals writes on a slip of paper which says in Latin, something along the lines, 'I choose as pope' so and so, they write it down in their own handwriting and they are encouraged to masquerade their own handwriting.

01:39
The process can be quick, as was the case for Pope Francis.

Or it could take several weeks.

The ballots are always burned, with a specially constructed fireplace and chimney set up at the Sistine Chapel.

If no majority has been reached, the ballots will be mixed with a chemical that makes black smoke.

01:54  ((Date insert: March 2013))
When there's a winner, white smoke appears from the chapel's chimney.

Bells toll, and then the new pope is revealed to the world, with the words, "Habemus Papam" -- "We have a pope."

ENDS