Black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney at 21:00 local time, signalling that the first day of the papal conclave had ended without the election of the 267th Pope.
The dark plume, a traditional indicator of an inconclusive vote, emerged hours after the doors of the Sistine Chapel were sealed with the Latin command “Extra omnes” (“Everyone out”), marking the start of the secretive proceedings.
The conclave, convened to select a successor to the papacy, saw the College of Cardinals gather earlier in the day for prayer and the initial round of voting.
The black smoke confirms that none of the candidates achieved the required two-thirds majority among the cardinal electors, a group of 115 prelates under the age of 80 eligible to vote.
The process will resume tomorrow morning, with the cardinals scheduled to reconvene in the Sistine Chapel at approximately 10:30 am Rome time for further ballots.
Voting will continue, with up to four ballots per day, until a new pontiff is chosen, at which point white smoke will announce the successful election to the world.
The conclave’s deliberations, shrouded in centuries-old tradition, remain confidential, with electors sworn to secrecy.
Observers and faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square expressed anticipation mixed with patience, as the selection of a new pope could take days.
The outcome will shape the direction of the Catholic Church, which serves over 1.3 billion followers worldwide.
