The election of a new pope has begun following the death of Pope Francis last month. The secret conclave of 131 Catholic cardinals are locked in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City until a new pontiff is chosen.

Francis’ successor will be selected by cardinals at the conclave that began on May 7. Cardinals, known as the “princes of the church,” rank just below the pope in the Roman Catholic Church; together, they are known as the College of Cardinals. When a pope dies, the college chooses a successor.

Cardinals wrapped up their pre-conclave meetings Tuesday, trying to identify a possible new pope who could follow Pope Francis and make the 2,000-year-old Ca