| Welcome to the weekend issue of Brussels Edition, Bloomberg’s daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union. Join us on Saturdays for deeper dives from our bureaus across Europe. ROME — A glass of wine in a restaurant just outside the Vatican, a stroll outside Rome’s Aurelian walls without wearing cardinals’ traditional red gowns, eating seafood in traditional trattorias. That’s how some of the 133 cardinals who have rushed to Rome after Pope Francis’s death are enjoying their last hours of freedom, according to Italian media reports. In a few days, they’ll be sealed inside the Sistine Chapel to pick the next pope in one of the world’s most secretive election processes.  A cardinal arrives for the seventh congregation meeting in the Vatican, on April 30. Photographer: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP/Getty Images None of them are speaking openly about the upcoming vote. And none of them want to engage with reporters. But their visible presence around the city is a reminder of what’s at stake for the Catholic world. On May 7, the cardinals will walk into the chapel decorated by Michelangelo, and they’ll only be able to leave the complex once they’ve picked a new pope. The outcome of the vote — which could take hours or weeks — is highly unpredictable. At stake is whether the church will return to championing more conservative values, or pursuing more flexible approaches to divisive issues like the role of women and LGBTQ members. Several names for the next pope have been floated, including Pietro Parolin, an Italian who serves as the Vatican’s secretary of state and is known for his diplomatic skills. Another is Raymond Leo Burke, a one-time archbishop of St. Louis and an ardent critic of Francis.  Pietro Parolin, center, at the late Pope Francis' funeral ceremony at the Vatican on April 26. Photographer: Filippo Monteforte/AFP There’s Peter Turkson, a Ghanaian known for relatively liberal views on social justice and human rights, and Philippines-born Luis Tagle, an advocate for enhanced inclusivity. Of course, being named in papers is hardly a guarantee of success. Until the white smoke wafts from the chapel’s chimney, the cardinals won’t be able to interact with anyone outside the group. Signal jammers and even drones will be deployed to make sure that phones won’t provide a way around the communications ban. The group of cardinals who will be in the chapel is as diverse as ever, with only a small number of them being of Italian nationality. Several languages are represented. The last two conclaves lasted only two days — but no matter how long it takes, cardinals are making the most of Rome’s warm sunlight, drinks, and good food. — Chiara Albanese, Italy bureau chief | 
