CONCLAVE TO BEGIN VOTING FOR NEW POPE MAY 7— VATICAN

Catholic cardinals will meet on May 7 to start voting for a new pope, the Vatican announced on Monday, a week after the death of Pope Francis.

The date for the papal election was decided on Monday after cardinals held the first daily congregation since Pope Francis’ funeral.

It follows the death of Pope Francis who died at the age of 88 on Easter Monday and whose funeral was held on Saturday.

The closed-door meeting will commence inside the Sistine Chapel and will involve 135 cardinals from across the world.Only cardinals under the age of 80 are allowed to vote in a papal election.

There is no timescale as to how long it will take to elect the next pope, but the previous two conclaves, held in 2005 and 2013, lasted just two days.