The Vatican has said the conclave to elect a new pope is likely to start in the first few days of next week, signalling that cardinals are coming to an end of discussions about the state of the church and who might lead it.

The last cardinal who will participate in the conclave to elect the next pope arrived in Rome today, meaning a date can now be set for the election.

Thousands lined Hanoi’s streets today as the Roman Catholic Church ordained 57 new priests in Vietnam – the largest number of priests ever added to the communist country at one time.