Cardinals have attended a special Mass in Rome, as they prepare to begin voting to elect a new Pope.
The 115 cardinal-electors listened to choirs in St Peter's Basilica, as they sought divine guidance for the vote.
They will process into the Sistine Chapel later on Tuesday to begin their secret deliberations. They will vote four times daily until two-thirds can agree on a candidate.
The election was prompted by the surprise abdication of Benedict XVI.
There is no clear frontrunner to take over as head of the Roman Catholic Church.
The 85-year-old Benedict stepped down last month saying he was no longer strong enough to lead the church, which is beset by problems ranging from a worldwide scandal over sexual abuse to allegations of corruption at the Vatican bank.
His resignation and the recent damage to the Church's reputation make the choice of the cardinal-electors especially hard to predict, the BBC's James Robbins in Rome says.
They will weigh pressure for a powerful manager to reform the Vatican against calls for a new Pope able to inspire the faithful, our correspondent adds.
BBC
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