On Wednesday evening at 9pm black smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, indicating that the College of Cardinals failed to elect a new pope in the first round of voting. The smoke signal—steeped in centuries-old tradition—confirmed that no candidate had received the required two-thirds majority, and so the Catholic Church remains without a new leader for now.
To become the 267th pope, a candidate must secure at least 89 votes from the 133 cardinal electors. The conclave, held in strict secrecy, follows an elaborate ritual process in which cardinals from around the world vote up to four times per day until consensus is reached.
After the unsuccessful first ballot, the cardinals withdrew to the Domus Sanctae Marthae (St Martha’s House), their Vatican residence during the conclave, following a short prayer. Voting will resume on Thursday morning, with the possibility of up to four additional ballots per day—two in the morning and two in the afternoon—until a pope is chosen.
Meanwhile, anticipation and prayer continue outside the chapel. According to the Italian news agency ANSA, around 30,000 faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square to witness the result of the first vote, while another 120,000 watched live online via Vatican News and the Holy See’s YouTube channel. Many attendees knelt or sat in quiet prayer, watching the chapel’s chimney for the critical signal: black smoke for no decision, white smoke for a successful election.
This conclave marks a pivotal moment for the global Catholic community, as the cardinals seek a leader who will guide the Church through the spiritual, social, and geopolitical challenges of the modern world.
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