Catholic bishops were unable to elect a new Pope on the first day of voting, and black smoke emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel.
The conclave, convened in Vatican City on Wednesday, did not reach an agreement on the new Pope’s candidate during the first round of voting. The black smoke rising from the chimney signifies that the vote did not produce a result.
Only one round of voting was held that day, lasting nearly four hours. The process was observed by tens of thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square.
The conclave will continue to meet and vote up to four times a day until a new Pope is elected. To be chosen, a candidate must receive the support of more than two-thirds of the 133 cardinals participating in the conclave.
Previous Popes were typically elected within two to three days, though in the 13th century, a conclave lasted a record three years.
Currently, there is no clear favorite, although Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are considered the main contenders. Other potential candidates include Jean-Marc Aveline from France, Péter Erdő from Hungary, Robert Prevost from the United States, and Pierbattista Pizzaballa from Italy.
