COMMENT Today, the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, including one million in Malaysia, will wait in deep prayer and earnest anticipation for the election of the new pope.

Tuesday, March 12, is the date chosen by the College of Cardinals to begin the conclave where the new Roman Pontiff will be chosen.

This afternoon, the 115 cardinals eligible to vote will enter the Sistine Chapel to take part in the election ballot until one man receives a two-third majority.

However long it takes, eventually the chosen candidate will be revealed to the thousands of pilgrims waiting outside in St Peter's Square in Vatican City, Rome.

Malaysia, which established diplomatic relations with the Vatican just two years ago, is also watching developments in the Catholic hierarchy closely.

There are more than a million Catholics in Malaysia and the Catholic Church in the country has grown increasingly vocal on a number of controversial issues of late...