In Rome, the conclave is the talk of the town: from speculation over a morning espresso about who will be the next pope to taxi drivers complaining about how roadblocks have made their work even more difficult.

At Mass before the conclave that will elect the next pope, the dean of the College of Cardinals urged his brothers to choose the shepherd the church and all of humanity need “at this difficult and complex and tormented” turning point in history.

A former Vatican nuncio and collaborator in the Roman Curia, Sri Lankan Cardinal Albert Malcolm Ranjith, 77, has been leading the Archdiocese of Colombo since 2009.

Of the 135 cardinals eligible to enter the Sistine Chapel on May 7 to elect the next pope, one absence has sparked confusion, controversy and no small amount of speculation, almost as if it were a plot point of the movie “Conclave.”

On the eve of the conclave that will decide the next pontiff, the ring and lead seal of the late Pope Francis were destroyed in the presence of members of the College of Cardinals in the Vatican’s New Synod Hall.

President Donald Trump on May 5 dismissed criticism from Catholic leaders and commentators after an image that appeared to be created by artificial intelligence depicting himself as pope was posted to the White House’s social media account.

The 72-year-old Salesian missionary has spent more than three decades of his priestly ministry in the developing world and now leads a tiny Catholic minority in a Muslim-majority country.

As prefect of the Vatican office tasked with overseeing and supporting the world’s priests and permanent deacons, Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik has brought his unique experience in formation and evangelization from South Korea to the universal church.

At the upcoming conclave, of the 133 cardinal electors who will enter the Sistine Chapel, 23 will come from Asia. At least six are on various short lists as “papabile,” or “popeable” candidates.

While no one expects cardinals to vote as geographical blocs for a new pope, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, president of the African bishops’ council, and the presidents of other regional conferences have connections and knowledge that many of their confreres do not.