Catholic cardinals who will choose the next pope were locked behind the heavy wood doors of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, sequestered from the world to elect the man they hope can unite a diverse but divided global church.
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In a ritual dating back to medieval times, 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 been elected on the first day of a conclave for centuries and voting could continue for several days before one man receives the necessary two-thirds majority to become the 267th pontiff.
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There will be only one ballot on Wednesday. Thereafter, there can be as many as four votes a day.