Conclave to elect new pope will start on May 7

It comes as the 16th-century Sistine Chapel, where conclaves are held, was closed to tourists on Monday to allow for preparations for the vote

Cardinals pray in front of the grave of late Pope Francis. Picture: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini

Catholic cardinals have set May 7 as the starting date for the conclave to elect Pope Francis’s successor, delaying the secret voting for two days to help them get to know one another better and find consensus on a candidate before they are sequestered in the Sistine Chapel.

The cardinals set the date after arriving for the first day of informal meetings following Francis’s funeral on Saturday.