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.

Black smoke has poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney, indicating no pope was elected on the first ballot of the conclave to choose a new leader of the Catholic Church.

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.