The cardinals can vote twice Thursday morning and twice in the afternoon. If no one collects a two-thirds majority, the cardinals will return Friday.

The doors of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican were closed on Wednesday, signalling the start of a secret conclave where 133 cardinals from around the world will elect a new pope. Latin chants and organ music had accompanied the cardinals as they processed into the frescoed chapel,

The conclave to select the next pope has begun after Catholic cardinals from across the world filed into the Sistine Chapel Wednesday before sealing themselves inside.