Extra omnes.” With these words in Latin, which mean “everybody out,” the highest-ranking officials of the Catholic Church will be locked inside the Sistine Chapel for a secret vote to elect a new pope.

The Sistine Chapel is located within the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope in the Vatican. Here are 5 interesting facts about the Sistine Chapel, as reported by Graylinerome, Througheternity, Thesistinechapel, and Britannica, namely:

In preparation for the conclave to elect a new pope, workers build platforms over a protective covering on the marble floor of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican May 2, 2025. The cardinals who enter the conclave May 7 will sit at tables facing the center with the tables in the back row raised slightly. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)