133 Cardinals fill Sistine Chapel to begin process of Conclave

The Catholic church has officially begun its highly secretive, choreographed process of selecting a new leader, after the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday.

133 red-robed Cardinals from across the globe filed into the Sistine Chapel Wednesday, with the doors sealed behind them to begin the conclave.

The Cardinal-electors are now confined to the Sistine chapel until a new pontiff is elected, with contact to the outside world cut off.

The voting procedure will follow a centuries-old tradition, and a new pope is expected to emerge within a day or two.

Some 45,000 people looked on as the chimney of the Sistine Chapel billowed black smoke, meaning the cardinals have yet to decide on a new pope.

The process will continue until a new leader is selected,  in the case of Pope Francis, it took two days.