All times listed are Eastern Daylight Time.
toDAY
5 a.m.-6:45 a.m.: Cardinals attend Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, then return to their Vatican hotel.
10:45 a.m.: Cardinals travel from their hotel to the Apostolic Palace.
11:30 a.m.: Procession from the Pauline Chapel into the Sistine Chapel.
11:45 a.m.-3 p.m.: Each cardinal takes an oath, most likely followed by the first vote. If the vote yields a new pope, white smoke will emerge from the chimney; if not the smoke will be black.
3 p.m.: Cardinals pray in the Sistine Chapel.
3:30 p.m.: Cardinals return to their hotel.
WEDNESDAY AND ONWARD
2:45 a.m.: Cardinals travel to the Pauline Chapel.
3:15 a.m.: Mass in the Pauline Chapel.
4:30 a.m.: Prayer in the Sistine Chapel, voting starts.
7:30 a.m.: Cardinals retire to their hotel for lunch.
11 a.m.: Cardinals return to the Sistine Chapel.
11:50 a.m.: Voting in the Sistine Chapel.
2:15 p.m.: Prayer in the Sistine Chapel.
2:30 p.m.: Cardinals return to their hotel.
PAUSES
After every three full days of voting, the cardinals break for a day of prayer and reflection, then resume for another three days. The first pause will be on Saturday if no pope has been selected before that.
THE SMOKE
Smoke will emerge from the chimney once at the end of the morning session -- about 7 a.m. -- and again at the end of the afternoon session -- 2 p.m. But if an earlier vote yields a pope, white smoke would emerge at that time, ending the conclave.
Once white smoke emerges from the chimney, a bell at the St. Peter's Basilica rings. Within an hour, the man who was selected emerges onto the balcony and his identity is known.
Source: Associated Press
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