Black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signalling that the cardinals have not yet elected a new pope as the secretive Vatican conclave continues into its second day.

Black smoke billowed from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, indicating that the College of Cardinals has not yet agreed on a new leader for the Roman Catholic Church.

Thousands of onlookers gathered in St. Peter’s Square, watching as the smoke rose shortly before noon local time (1000 GMT). The signal followed an inconclusive vote by the 133 cardinals under the age of 80, who began the conclave on Wednesday and are locked in total isolation until a new pope is chosen.

The smoke, generated by burning the cardinals’ ballots mixed with special chemicals, plays a key role in the centuries-old ritual. Black smoke means no consensus has been reached, while white smoke heralds the election of a new pontiff.

Cardinals held the first ballot on Wednesday evening, as tradition dictates. On Thursday, they are expected to conduct two votes in the afternoon, with more smoke anticipated around 5:30 p.m. local time (1530 GMT).

Known as the “princes of the Church,” the cardinals may cast up to four votes per day until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority.

Historically, no pope in modern times has been elected on the first ballot. Both Pope Francis, elected in 2013, and his predecessor, Benedict XVI, chosen in 2005, were selected on the evening of the second day — making a similar outcome this week plausible.

This conclave follows the death of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, who led the Catholic Church through a transformative decade marked by reform, global engagement, and internal challenges.

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