Black smoke poured out of the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday, signalling that no pope had been elected as 133 cardinals opened the secretive, centuries-old ritual to choose a new leader of the Catholic Church.

With all the pomp, drama and solemnity that the Catholic Church can muster, 133 cardinals began the centuries-old ritual to elect a successor to Pope Francis.

The black smoke confirmed the 133 cardinal electors sequestered inside had not reached the required two-thirds majority — at least 89 votes — needed to elect a new pope.