Watch: Why the race to be the next pope is unpredictable

The BBC's religion editor Aleem Maqbool explains why it's so difficult to guess who will be the next pontiff.

Comments

Breaking news

Counter terrorism police examining Facebook posts following Leeds crossbow incident

Counter terrorism police examining Facebook posts following Leeds crossbow incident

Bogota fights heroin overdoses with South America's only supervised drug consumption room

Bogota fights heroin overdoses with South America's only supervised drug consumption room

North Korea makes first public admission it sent troops to fight for Russia

North Korea makes first public admission it sent troops to fight for Russia

Ultra-processed foods may be linked to thousands of UK deaths every year

Ultra-processed foods may be linked to thousands of UK deaths every year

Mao Saigo of Japan wins the Chevron Championship with a birdie in a 5-way playoff

Mao Saigo of Japan wins the Chevron Championship with a birdie in a 5-way playoff

Meghan Markle shares adorable new pictures of Archie and Lilibet after daughter's voice is heard for first time

Meghan Markle shares adorable new pictures of Archie and Lilibet after daughter's voice is heard for first time

'Dodgy' parking machines cause heartache as motorists pay fines despite being innocent

'Dodgy' parking machines cause heartache as motorists pay fines despite being innocent

Sister of tragic headteacher demands Ofsted U-turn as rating anger grows

Sister of tragic headteacher demands Ofsted U-turn as rating anger grows

New school uniform law to help millions of families - how it affects you

New school uniform law to help millions of families - how it affects you

Myrtle Beach shooting: Man shot dead by police at popular tourist destination in South Carolina

Myrtle Beach shooting: Man shot dead by police at popular tourist destination in South Carolina

Liverpool won this title for one very good reason - they deserved it, writes GRAEME SOUNESS

Liverpool won this title for one very good reason - they deserved it, writes GRAEME SOUNESS

Liverpool fans are all saying the same thing about Trent Alexander-Arnold after star soaked up the celebrations following historic 20th Premier League title

Liverpool fans are all saying the same thing about Trent Alexander-Arnold after star soaked up the celebrations following historic 20th Premier League title

Freed From Desire! Trent Alexander-Arnold leads the Liverpool dressing room celebrations as newly-crowned champions sing and dance, smoke cigars and drink non-alcoholic beers

Freed From Desire! Trent Alexander-Arnold leads the Liverpool dressing room celebrations as newly-crowned champions sing and dance, smoke cigars and drink non-alcoholic beers

ITV quiz gaming show hosted by Mel Giedroyc is 'AXED after just one series due to poor ratings'

ITV quiz gaming show hosted by Mel Giedroyc is 'AXED after just one series due to poor ratings'

Cody Gakpo drops major hint about Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool future while celebrating title triumph

Cody Gakpo drops major hint about Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool future while celebrating title triumph

Look who got T-Rexit done! As politician dresses as an orange dinosaur for his son's Jurassic Park themed birthday party, can YOU guess who it is?

Look who got T-Rexit done! As politician dresses as an orange dinosaur for his son's Jurassic Park themed birthday party, can YOU guess who it is?

Urgent call to ban deepfake pornography apps that target teenage girls

Urgent call to ban deepfake pornography apps that target teenage girls

Britain's property wealth age gap revealed! Over 60s hold NINE times more than under 35s

Britain's property wealth age gap revealed! Over 60s hold NINE times more than under 35s

Treasury to toughen debanking rules in the wake of Nigel Farage clash with Nat West to allow consumers to better challenge decisions to close accounts

Treasury to toughen debanking rules in the wake of Nigel Farage clash with Nat West to allow consumers to better challenge decisions to close accounts

Israeli jets bomb Beirut's southern suburbs - marking third strike on the area since November ceasefire

Israeli jets bomb Beirut's southern suburbs - marking third strike on the area since November ceasefire

North Korea confirms it has troops in Russia to fight war-torn Ukraine for the first time

North Korea confirms it has troops in Russia to fight war-torn Ukraine for the first time

Transgender civil servants WILL be banned from toilets and changing rooms meant for the opposite sex

Transgender civil servants WILL be banned from toilets and changing rooms meant for the opposite sex

CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews Louis Theroux: The Settlers on BBC2: Theroux's bumbling gaucheness is wearing uncomfortably thin...

CHRISTOPHER STEVENS reviews Louis Theroux: The Settlers on BBC2: Theroux's bumbling gaucheness is wearing uncomfortably thin...

How raisins with your morning cereal could help you live longer

How raisins with your morning cereal could help you live longer

ROSS CLARK: As Labour creates 27 new quangos in eight months... How quangocracy rakes in the cash

ROSS CLARK: As Labour creates 27 new quangos in eight months... How quangocracy rakes in the cash

The SIX games that made Liverpool champions: A fiery clash which set the Reds ablaze, a colossal point on the road... and the match that broke Arsenal's spirit

The SIX games that made Liverpool champions: A fiery clash which set the Reds ablaze, a colossal point on the road... and the match that broke Arsenal's spirit

Trade deal with US isn't certain despite Government efforts to avoid Trump's tariffs, says top minister

Trade deal with US isn't certain despite Government efforts to avoid Trump's tariffs, says top minister

Tory councillors CAN form pacts with Reform at local elections, says Kemi Badenoch

Tory councillors CAN form pacts with Reform at local elections, says Kemi Badenoch

Why this is the most brutally realistic war film ever made, writes RICHARD PENDLEBURY, who's reported on conflicts around the world for 25 years - and says the story of a unit under fire in Iraq has haunting lessons for Ukraine today

Why this is the most brutally realistic war film ever made, writes RICHARD PENDLEBURY, who's reported on conflicts around the world for 25 years - and says the story of a unit under fire in Iraq has haunting lessons for Ukraine today

Revealed in a new book on the Prime Minister's first months in power, a bombshell claim from senior Labour insiders... Why even Keir Starmer's inner circle want to see Wes Streeting in Number 10, writes LORD ASHCROFT

Revealed in a new book on the Prime Minister's first months in power, a bombshell claim from senior Labour insiders... Why even Keir Starmer's inner circle want to see Wes Streeting in Number 10, writes LORD ASHCROFT

Jennifer Garner and John Miller's clue they're the perfect match following Ben Affleck reconciliation rumors

Jennifer Garner and John Miller's clue they're the perfect match following Ben Affleck reconciliation rumors

ANDREW PIERCE: Is hotel inquiry key to Watson's attack on union?

ANDREW PIERCE: Is hotel inquiry key to Watson's attack on union?

Blake Lively makes bold red carpet statement as beleaguered actress arrives at premiere with Ryan Reynolds

Blake Lively makes bold red carpet statement as beleaguered actress arrives at premiere with Ryan Reynolds

Jennifer Lopez pokes fun at the economy amid fears of US recession

Jennifer Lopez pokes fun at the economy amid fears of US recession

'I hate this': Brits are fuming over WhatsApp's new feature

'I hate this': Brits are fuming over WhatsApp's new feature

Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week?

Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week?

Urgent care in England performing 'far worse' than pre-pandemic, think tank says

Urgent care in England performing 'far worse' than pre-pandemic, think tank says

German defence minister says Ukraine should not agree to sweeping territorial concessions

German defence minister says Ukraine should not agree to sweeping territorial concessions

The rapid remaking of a nation, in 100 days

The rapid remaking of a nation, in 100 days

What we know about the Vancouver festival attack

What we know about the Vancouver festival attack

The beauty and challenge of elections in Canada's frigid north

The beauty and challenge of elections in Canada's frigid north

Protests Against Israeli Official Heat Up Outside Synagogue in Brooklyn

Protests Against Israeli Official Heat Up Outside Synagogue in Brooklyn

How Labubus Turned Into a Global Sensation

How Labubus Turned Into a Global Sensation

Patient Aboard an Ambulance Fatally Stabs a Firefighter Paramedic

Patient Aboard an Ambulance Fatally Stabs a Firefighter Paramedic

Dick Barnett, Champion Knick With a Singular Jump Shot, Dies at 88

Dick Barnett, Champion Knick With a Singular Jump Shot, Dies at 88

New Details Emerge on Trump Officials’ Sprint to Gut Consumer Bureau Staff

New Details Emerge on Trump Officials’ Sprint to Gut Consumer Bureau Staff

Ukraine still fighting in Kursk despite Putin’s claim it was ‘liberated’ by Russia, insists Zelensky

Ukraine still fighting in Kursk despite Putin’s claim it was ‘liberated’ by Russia, insists Zelensky

North Korea CONFIRMS for 1st time it has sent troops to Russia – and claims it helped Putin take back Kursk from Ukraine

North Korea CONFIRMS for 1st time it has sent troops to Russia – and claims it helped Putin take back Kursk from Ukraine

Shock as 1,472 quango fat-cats earned over £100k last year, report reveals

Shock as 1,472 quango fat-cats earned over £100k last year, report reveals

Suspect arrested in alleged theft of Kristi Noem’s purse is in U.S. illegally, official says

Suspect arrested in alleged theft of Kristi Noem’s purse is in U.S. illegally, official says

A shooting at a small North Carolina college leaves 1 dead, 6 wounded

A shooting at a small North Carolina college leaves 1 dead, 6 wounded

Marco Rubio claims Canada should be 51st state as PM told Trump they ‘couldn’t survive’ without U.S.

Marco Rubio claims Canada should be 51st state as PM told Trump they ‘couldn’t survive’ without U.S.

Easter Egg thief breaks into car parked at Scots home and nicks chocolate treat

Easter Egg thief breaks into car parked at Scots home and nicks chocolate treat

First picture of teenage girl killed in horror two-car crash near Brechin

First picture of teenage girl killed in horror two-car crash near Brechin

Missing Scots student who vanished in Madrid is found after two-day search

Missing Scots student who vanished in Madrid is found after two-day search

British Paralympian missing in Las Vegas

British Paralympian missing in Las Vegas

Scotch whisky producers see licensing costs slashed under change to tax rules

Scotch whisky producers see licensing costs slashed under change to tax rules

Baby heartbreakingly dies just nine days old after mum's womb 'divides into two halves'

Baby heartbreakingly dies just nine days old after mum's womb 'divides into two halves'

Teacher suddenly dies in front of horrified school pupils after class

Teacher suddenly dies in front of horrified school pupils after class

Rita Ora shows off her incredible figure in racy white bra and tiny shorts with tassel belt while performing as she supports Kylie Minogue on tour

Rita Ora shows off her incredible figure in racy white bra and tiny shorts with tassel belt while performing as she supports Kylie Minogue on tour