CARDINALS' CONCLAVE TO BEGIN MAY 7

CARDINALS set May 7 as the start date for the conclave to elect Francis' successor, delaying the secret voting for two days so they can get to know one another better and find consensus on a candidate before they are sequestered in the Sistine Chapel.

- BY NICOLE WINFIELD and COLLEEN BARRY

They arrived for the first day of informal meetings following Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday. In a chaotic scene, journalists shouted questions about the mood inside and whether there was unity.

A reporter for a satirical Italian television programme asked whether an Italian cardinal who has been convicted by the Vatican criminal court on finance-related charges would be allowed to vote.