Black Smoke Signals No Pope Elected
Black smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney late Wednesday evening, May 7th, indicating the conclave did not elect a successor to the late Pope Francis in their initial round of voting. The process to select the next leader of the 1.4-billion-member Catholic Church is set to continue today, Thursday, May 8th.
Conclave Proceedings
Following Pope Francis's passing last month, the cardinal electors processed solemnly into the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday to begin the historic task of choosing the next pontiff. Before casting their first ballots, each cardinal took a sworn oath of secrecy. Public attention then focused on the chapel's chimney, anticipating the traditional smoke signal that reveals the outcome of the voting. A large crowd, estimated at over 45,000 people, gathered in St. Peter's Square throughout the day, waiting for the signal (white smoke).
Voting Continues
As widely expected in modern conclaves, the first day's single ballot did not yield the required two-thirds majority (89 votes). The resulting black smoke, produced by burning the ballots with specific chemicals, confirmed this outcome at approximately 9:00 PM local time. Starting today, the cardinals will conduct up to four rounds of voting daily – two in the morning and two in the afternoon – until a candidate secures the necessary majority. The emergence of white smoke from the chimney will signal that a new pope has been successfully elected.
While recent conclaves have been relatively brief (two days in both 2005 and 2013), discussions among cardinals preceding this conclave revealed differing perspectives on the desired direction for the Church, ranging from legacy of Pope Francis's reforms or returning to older traditions.
The papal conclave continues within the secluded Sistine Chapel, with the cardinal electors for further rounds of voting today. The world watches and waits, alongside the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, for the signal of white smoke that will announce the election of the next pope.
