Francis’ successor will be selected by cardinals at the conclave that began on May 7. Cardinals, known as the “princes of the church,” rank just below the pope in the Roman Catholic Church; together, they are known as the College of Cardinals. When a pope dies, the college chooses a successor.

Roman Catholic cardinals from across the globe entered the Sistine Chapel to choose a new pope, who will set the moral compass for the Church’s 1.4 billion faithful and become a reference point for much of the world.