Some 133 cardinals from 70 different countries have begun meditions at the sistine chapel in the Vatican that will end up in the election of the a new pontif of the Roman catholic church.
In a ritual dating back to medieval times, the 133 cardinal electors walked slowly into the chapel before taking an oath of perpetual secrecy under the gaze of the stern Christ depicted in Michelangelo’s Last Judgement fresco, which adorns the chapel.
Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Vatican’s master of ceremonies, then pronounced the Latin command “Extra omnes!” (Everyone out!), telling all those not involved in the conclave to leave.
The chapel’s doors were slammed shut, allowing the cardinals to hold their first ballot to look for a successor to Pope Francis, who died last month.
No pope has ever been elected on the first day of a conclave for centuries and voting will continue for several days before one among the 133 cardinal electors receives the necessary two-thirds majority to become the 267th pontiff.
There will be only one ballot this Wednesday, and the million of onlookers expect to see smoke from the chapel after 7 p.m. (1700 GMT).
Thereafter, there can be as many as four votes a day.
Black smoke will mark an inconclusive vote; white smoke and the pealing of bells will signal that the 1.4-billion-member Church has a new leader.
