The College of Cardinals is to select the next pope at the end of March following the surprise resignation of Benedict XVI on Monday.

As the vote is restricted to cardinals under 80 years of age, 118 are eligible to choose the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

The process, called a conclave, is carried out in secret in the Vatican City. This time, cardinals from 24 countries will write the name of their preferred candidate on a piece of paper until a two-thirds-plus-one majority is reached.

A series of votes is usually required, generally leading the conclave to last several days.

By John Power (john.power@heraldcorp.com)