Conclave live: Black smoke signals no new pope yet; the seven cardinals most discussed last night

Beyond the personalities, what could influence a vote for pontiff?

We've spoken often about how the personalities of cardinals influence votes.

But some practical factors play a role too.

If a relatively younger man is picked, say in his 60s, suddenly the Catholic Church is looking at a papacy maybe lasting two decades or maybe even longer.

There will be a question over whether that's what the cardinals want.

Alongside that, picking a pope where the church is growing - like Asia or Africa - could bring upheaval to the internal Italian-heavy bureaucracy of the Vatican.

This structure is already reeling from the late pope's go-it-alone style.

But such a decision could also serve to accelerate growth in these areas.

Watch chimney-cam live as afternoon voting begins

With this afternoon's voting now in session, all eyes return to the chimney.

If you want to join the world in watching, press play on the stream below.

Remember, black smoke means no new pope and white smoke means a successor has been chosen.

Afternoon voting begins

It's 3.30pm which means the cardinals have begun the afternoon session of voting.

The doors of the Sistine Chapel have been sealed, so all eyes return to the chimney to see whether the 133 cardinals can reach a decision.

There is time for two rounds of voting between now and 6pm.

It marks the fourth and fifth round of voting after two failed this morning.

If successful, we'll see white smoke.

A round of voting lasts roughly an hour, so we could see a result as soon as 4.30pm.

We'll only see black smoke if both rounds of voting fail, later in the evening session.

Pope Francis critic has his say

Huge numbers have travelled to St Peter's Square, hoping to witness the moment white smoke billows over the Sistine Chapel.

We've heard from some of our guests on why claims of factionalism might be overblown, but one of those who made the journey to Vatican City isn't afraid to wear his loyalty on his sleeve.

Reverend Jan Dominik Bogataj, a Slovene Franciscan friar, was critical of Francis. 

He said if he were in the Sistine Chapel, he'd be voting for Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa - who we mentioned in our list of seven cardinals spoken about overnight.

Speaking from the square, Bogataj said: "He has clear ideas, not much ideology. He's a direct, intelligent, and respectful man

"Most of all, he's agile."

People from across the world wait for a new pope

There are said to be almost 1.4 billion Catholics in the world.

This includes people from a huge number of nations, and this international factor is on show at St Peter's Square today.

A number of flags can be seen throughout the crowds.

'Politics? What politics!': Experts argue factions and ambition are overhyped in conclave debate

Pope Francis was known as a more liberal pontiff for his attitudes towards immigration, gay people and women.

However, his passing has raised questions over whether his successor will carry on in his style, or not.

We've been having guests and experts on Sky News throughout the day to discuss many issues around the papacy.

Sky News commentator Alastair Bruce and Father Stephen Wang, rector of the Venerable English College in Rome, talked about the question of politics in the conclave and whether claims over a progressive/conservative divide were overblown.

'Too easy' to use political terms

When asked if he went along with the idea there was a progressive-conservative split within the cardinals, Wang said: "I don't think it's the reality. I think one or two of them might think like that.

"I think it can be a bit too easy to use these political terms.

"Look at the three recent popes we have, in my adult life I've known about John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis - they all had different styles.

"Pope Francis has put love for the poor and opening up the church at the very centre. I think we need to build on that.

"But that's not a faction or a battle, that's part of Catholic Christianity."

Wang said he would want "something of Pope Francis, something of Pope Benedict and something of John Paul II,".

"It's not about one political party winning against another."

'I don't think there are ambitious popes'

"I think that it is a very different thing," Bruce said. "In this, the people who are likely to become pope, the real candidates, desperately want not to do it because it is a burden of immense weight.

"I don't think there are ambitious popes in this day and age.

"I don't think we saw any ambition in Francis to become pope. 

"But he was selected, and he turned out to be an immensely influential pope.

"If there is a cardinal who is more ambitious, I think he'll get spotted."

Who is Luis Tagle? The 'playful' cardinal who could make history as the first Asian pope

Luis Tagle, a cardinal from the Philippines, could become the first-ever pope from Asia.

The 67-year-old, often referred to as the "Asian Francis" - a reference to Pope Francis - has been put on unofficial shortlists as cardinals gather in Rome for the conclave to choose the next pope.

Here is everything you need to know.

Experienced candidate

On paper, Cardinal Tagle seems to have all the boxes ticked to qualify him to be a pope.

He has decades of pastoral and administrative experience, working as bishop of Imus and then as archbishop of Manila before being made cardinal by Pope Benedict in 2012.

He was elevated to the rank of cardinal-bishop by Francis in 2020, a senior role within the College of Cardinals that involves being responsible for a church in a suburb of Rome.

The promotion was seen by some as Francis favouring Cardinal Tagle as his successor at the time.

A cardinal with a 'playful side'

Preferring to be called "Chito", Cardinal Tagle is widely regarded as having an infectious smile, easy laugh, and spontaneity with words, similar to Francis.

He came to Rome from the Philippines, a country that is far from the Catholic Church's traditional power base of Europe, but is the biggest Catholic nation in Asia, and the third largest in the world.

He is described as being "unafraid to share his emotions and sentimentality in public" on the College of Cardinals website, and someone who "often displays a playful side, as when dancing with youth, or in the sanctuary, or celebrating Mass in a folksy and casual manner".

-SKY NEWS