Black smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at 21:00 local time on the first day of the papal conclave, signaling that no candidate received the necessary two-thirds majority to be elected as the 267th Pope.
The plume came hours after the ceremonial Latin phrase “Extra omnes” — meaning “Everyone out” — was declared, marking the moment all non-electors were ushered out of the Chapel and the doors were sealed, beginning the secretive voting process.
With no consensus reached, the conclave will resume tomorrow morning. The 115 Cardinal electors are expected to reconvene around 10:30 a.m. Rome time to continue casting their ballots in the centuries-old tradition of selecting a new leader for the Roman Catholic Church.
The Vatican remains under global watch as faithful around the world await the white smoke that will signal the election of a new pontiff.
