Red tops Press hunt cardinals across Rome for conclave clues

Some journalists brave the warm spring sun, others seek respite in the shade of the Vatican's colonnades. Whatever their strategy, the aim is the same: to spot the red-capped cardinals emerging from Synod Hall and try to elicit from them a clue as to who will succeed Pope Francis.

- Angela Giuffrida

The men responsible for picking a new pontiff are enjoying rock-star status in Rome this week as they prepare for conclave: the secret, centuries-old ritual of electing a leader of the Catholic church that is due to begin on 7 May.

Marina Garcia Diéguez is among the journalists partaking in the daily stakeout. She is a conclave novice, but was quick to suss out the cunning ways the cardinals try to avoid the gaggle of reporters.

"Each one has his own strategy," said Diéguez, who works for the Spanish radio station Cadena Ser and Mediaset España. "Some remove their red skullcaps and leave by foot, taking a route that crosses St Peter's Square, where they can get lost among the tourists, before escaping through Via della Conciliazione."

It was at that location, she advised, that you stood a good chance of catching one.