India, May 7 -- The Vatican City is bracing itself to conduct the Papal conclave on Wednesday, May 7, to choose the new leader for the world's 1.3 billion Catholic population after the death of 88-year-old Pope Francis.

The secret Conclave will start with centuries-old rituals of sacred oath by participating cardinals and piercing of ballots while the outside world awaits white smoke to billow out of the Sistine Chapel's chimney.

The longest conclave ever was in the year 1268 when the conclave lasted for 3 years - 1006 days.

There is no limit on the time. The election involves an elaborate process of taking oaths by cardinals and marking their ballots 4-times each day till the two-thirds majority agrees on a single name.

Before enteri...