Roman Catholic cardinals will begin the task on Wednesday of electing a new pope, locking themselves away from the world until they choose the man they hope can unite a diverse but divided global Church.

More than 130 cardinals are entering the largest-ever conclave today to elect the new pope. They will go into the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City to choose the late Pope Francis's successor and will have no contact with the outside world until white smoke rises into the air.