VATICAN CITY – St. Peter’s Square was bustling on Wednesday morning despite the gray clouds trickling occasional raindrops over Vatican City. Massive television screens were placed under statues of Sts. Peter and Paul. More displays extend down the Via della Conciliazione. Thousands will use these screens to monitor the impending papal conclave, standing too far from St. Peter’s Basilica to see the chimney smoke or new pontiff appear.

At 10:00 a.m., the sound system kicked on and filled the square with a feed of angelic hymns being sung inside the basilica. On the screens, onlookers witnessed almost 200 cardinals in blood-red robes and white mitres proceed through the two-football-field-long church — the color of their robes symbolizing their duty to die for the faith and their bifurcated hats marking their dignity as prelates.