Cardinals locked inside Sistine Chapel as conclave begins

Visitors look on as they wait for smoke signalling the result of the cardinals' vote during the conclave in the Vatican, on May 7, 2025. [AFP]

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.