ATICAN CITY, May 2 (Reuters) – If Roman Catholic cardinals have not picked a new pope by day three of next week’s conclave, then things are not going to plan.

Short conclaves wrapped up in a couple of days project an image of unity, and the last thing the red-robed cardinals will want is to give the impression that they are divided and the Church adrift after the death of Pope Francis last month.

“Maximum three days,” Salvadoran Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez confidently predicted this week ahead of the secret ballot, which will begin in the Sistine Chapelon May 7.