CHICAGO -- Members of the National Coalition of American Nuns on Monday protested the exclusion of women from the process of selecting a new pope.

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The gathering took place outside Holy Name Cathedral in the 700 block of North State Street.

Demonstrators released pink smoke to symbolize what they called secrecy and sexism in the church hierarchy, NBC5's Kim Vatis reported. The display mimicked the ritual in Vatican City where the conclave of cardinals will release black or white smoke to let the faithful know whether a new pope has been selected.

The National Coalition of American Nuns is one of several groups pushing to ordain women in the church.

"The exclusion of women is the greatest scandal in the church today," coalition spokeswoman Donna Quinn said. "We say, 'No to sex abuse,' and today we say, 'No more gender abuse.'"

Vatis reported the coalition of nuns is demanding a say in who leads the church, saying it should not be left up to 115 men.

Anne Pezullo, of the Women's Ordination Conference, said leadership positions given to women under Pope John Paul II's papacy "were only advisory in nature."

"John Paul's ban on the ordination of women bars women from participating in its governing structures," she said.

"The voice has been shackled. We can't even have a conversation about this," said Drina Nikolai, also of the ordination conference. "I think, in their heart of hearts, many of them, off the record, we know will say, 'Yes, we want women priests.' They're not allowed to have those conversations at this point in time."

The nuns say they hope the cardinals themselves will initiate dialogue about the ordination issue. The women are also trying to get more representation from Africa and Latin America.

Many believe that before women are ordained, the church will allow married men to become priests, Vatis reported.