The cardinals responsible for electing a new pope are locked inside the Sistine Chapel to begin the secret ballot.
Before the doors shut, cardinals took an oath in which they promised to keep secret all matters related to the vote and that whoever is elected will faithfully carry out the role.
They will now have no communication with the outside world until a new pope is elected, meaning the conclave has officially begun.
After the first vote later today, smoke will emerge from the chapel’s chimney – black smoke means more voting will take place tomorrow, white means there is a new pope.
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