With 1.4 billion followers, the Catholic Church now awaits the election of its next leader—a pivotal moment set to shape the future of the faith for years to come.

Today, more than 130 Catholic cardinals from around the world are gathering at the Vatican to begin the papal conclave—a centuries-old tradition held to elect a new pope after the conclusion of Pope Francis’ papacy.

The conclave will be held in strict secrecy within the Sistine Chapel, where all participants will be completely isolated from the outside world until a new pope is chosen. This confidentiality is intended to uphold the integrity of the election process, which continues until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority.

According to the Vatican, 108 of the cardinals are participating in a conclave for the first time. Only five—Philippe Barbarin of France, Josip Bozanić of Croatia, Péter Erdő of Hungary, Vinko Pulić of Bosnia, and Peter Turkson of Ghana—have previous voting experience from the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.

A Vatican spokesperson explained the tradition: “When the choice is made, white smoke will billow from the Apostolic Palace. It is a sign to the world that the Church has a new shepherd.”

After the white smoke appears, the newly chosen pope will step onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to address the public, officially beginning his papacy. While some believe the process will go relatively smoothly, there is no obvious leading candidate.

With 1.4 billion members, the Catholic Church is now waiting for the election of its next leader, a decision that will influence the direction of the faith for many years.