The cardinals gathered on Wednesday afternoon in the Sistine Chapel - and after a few hours, the first ballot took place. The smoke that billowed out of the chapel's chimney was, however, black, which means that new ballots will be held on Thursday.
Until a new pope is elected, the door will be closed for deliberations. From the moment the door was closed, the cardinals are forbidden all communication with the outside world - until the papal election is made and white smoke has risen from the chimney on the chapel's roof.
Facing a difficult task
When the conclave was to formally begin, the 133 cardinals with voting rights in the papal election entered the Sistine Chapel, while the Swiss Guards stood at attention. The cardinals bowed before the altar and took their places. Each of them also took an oath of silence.
A mass, led by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, was the last ceremony open to the general public before the conclave. During the mass, the dean prayed for them to find wisdom and understanding and said that the next pope faces a difficult and complex task. He also urged them to avoid "personal interests" and choose a pope who seeks community.
Can take weeks
133 cardinals from 70 different countries around the world - including Swedish Anders Arborelius - are gathered to elect the next pope. It is, according to AP, the most geographically diverse conclave in the history of the Catholic Church.
The election can take several weeks. However, 87-year-old Cardinal Paolo Romeo believes in a relatively quick process.
It will not be a long conclave. After the fifth or sixth ballot, the new pope will be elected, he said according to La Repubblica before the conclave.
89 votes - or a two-thirds majority - are required to be elected pope.
