Since livestream cameras went up early Wednesday morning, a handful of seagulls have hopped around the Sistine Chapel chimney, delighting onlookers.

The eyes of the world are on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. So far, the faithful have only seen black smoke and... a white seagull that perched on the chapel's roof and unexpectedly became a favourite among internet users.

The cardinals voting inside the chapel are presumably unaware of the meme-worthy performance above their heads. View on euronews

Francis’ successor will be selected by cardinals at the conclave that began on May 7. Cardinals, known as the “princes of the church,” rank just below the pope in the Roman Catholic Church; together, they are known as the College of Cardinals. When a pope dies, the college chooses a successor.

Cardinals are meeting in a secret, sacred conclave for a second day as they seek a new pontiff to follow Pope Francis