There are currently 135 cardinals who are under age 80 and eligible to vote in the conclave, hailing from 71 different countries in the most geographically diverse conclave in history. Already two have formally told the Holy See that they cannot attend for health reasons, bringing the number of men who will enter the Sistine Chapel down to 133.

All of the 133 cardinals expected to take part in the secret conclave to elect a new pope have arrived in Rome, the Vatican said on Monday, with the race to succeed Pope Francis seen as wide open. The conclave will start behind the closed,

"We’ve lost great respect for moments like this," said one archbishop of the imagery shared by Trump and the White House days after Pope Francis’ death.

President Donald Trump posted an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope. The post has since received criticism from some members of the Catholic community.

An image of President Trump as the pope is eliciting rebukes as the Catholic Church remains in mourning after the death of Francis and prepares to select the next pontiff.