Ontario-born cardinal among conclave to select Pope Franciss successor [Video]

A cardinal from Guelph is among the 135 cardinals who will choose Pope Francis’s successor.

Cardinal Thomas Collins arrived in Rome on Tuesday, where he’ll be part of a conclave for just the second time in his life.

He said he’s been participating in daily meetings with other cardinals ahead of Francis’s funeral on Saturday. Collins said the dean of the College of Cardinals runs the meetings, which begin at 9 a.m. and discuss issues relating to the church.

A conclave will begin following a period of mourning, which lasts nine days.

“We’re isolated from the world then, so we can have the serenity and peace and freedom to pray and select on who we should vote for as the new pope,” Collins said.

The 78-year-old said there are more than 250 cardinals in attendance, however, many of them are over the age of 80. You have to be under 80 as a …