The second day of the Conclave may witness surprises as black smoke rose from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday evening, indicating that the first ballot of the papal conclave ended without electing a new Pope.
The signal came around 8pm, nearly an hour after the expected time, confirming no candidate secured the required majority.
About 45,000 people gathered in St Peter’s Square, watching the historic event unfold. The conclave, aimed at selecting the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church, resumes today with two voting sessions in the morning and two in the evening.
To be elected, a candidate must secure at least two-thirds of the votes—89 out of 133 cardinal-electors representing 70 countries. If no decision is reached after three days, the process pauses for a day of prayer and informal discussions, followed by a spiritual address by the senior cardinal deacon.
If voting remains inconclusive after 21 rounds, only the two candidates with the highest previous votes will remain eligible, though they will not vote. Nonetheless, the two-thirds requirement still applies.
Earlier on Wednesday, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re led the “Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff” in St Peter’s Basilica. Around 3:45 pm, the cardinal-electors processed into the Sistine Chapel while chanting the “Litany of the Saints” and “Veni Creator Spiritus.”
Inside the chapel, each cardinal swore an oath of secrecy. With the command “Extra omnes” (“Everyone out”), all non-essential personnel exited. Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa then delivered a spiritual meditation to prepare the cardinals for deliberation.
The conclave is strictly confidential. Any breach results in automatic excommunication. The Vatican has implemented tight security, including signal jammers and electronic bans, to maintain secrecy. As the world watches the chapel's chimney, the search for a new spiritual leader continues.
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