Reasons why this conclave may not take that long
With the conclave to elect the next pope set to begin on May 7, there is no one leading the table of “papabile” – the term used for a cardinal likely to become a pope.
There are 135 cardinals under the age of 80 — and thus capable of voting in the conclave — the largest number of papal electors in history (although two have said they won’t attend, as of this writing).
They come from all over the world, and many of them aren’t very well known among their brethren. Many observers think we might have a longer conclave than the last few — which were over after two days — since there are no clear frontrunners and therefore getting the two-thirds total necessary for victory may be difficult.