Cardinals choosing the next leader of the global Catholic Church were locked into the Vatican's Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, marking the formal start of the conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis.
Shortly after 17:45 (15:45 GMT), the conclave's master of ceremonies declared "Extra omnes" -- "Everybody out" in Latin -- and then shut the heavy doors of the 15th century chapel, leaving the 133 "Princes of the Church" to make their choice in secrecy.
The centuries-old ritual, which is expected to last several days, comes just over a fortnight after the death of Pope Francis, the Argentine Jesuit who led the world's 1.4 billion Catholics for 12 years.
The cardinal electors had earlier gathered in the nearby Pauline Chapel in silent prayer before proceeding to the 15th-century Sistine Chapel, where tables and chairs have been laid out beneath Michelangelo's frescoes.
