Black smoke signals no decision in record-breaking conclave
The cardinals gathered at the conclave did not elect a pope during the first vote. On Wednesday at 8:00 PM (9:00 PM Vatican time), black smoke rose from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, symbolising a lack of decision. A record number of 133 cardinal electors are participating in the vote.
At 8:00 PM black smoke rose from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel – a sign that the first vote of the cardinals did not lead to the election of a new pope.
The symbolic signal means that none of the candidates received the required two-thirds majority, which is a minimum of 89 out of 133 voting cardinals – a record number of participants in the history of the conclave.
Conclave commenced
The first vote traditionally has an exploratory character and helps to determine which candidates have the most support among the electors. It is the preliminary phase, the result of which usually does not yet determine the choice of a new pope but serves as an important starting point for further decisions.
In St. Peter's Square, roughly 45,000 faithful and tourists from around the world gathered, eagerly awaiting the result of the first vote. The wait lasted for over three hours, which was due to the exceptionally large number of cardinals participating in the conclave.
According to the current rules, if a new pope is not elected after thirteen rounds of voting, a one-day break is planned to give cardinals time for reflection and consultations. After each round in which a decision is not made, the ballots are burned, and the colour of the smoke rising from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel informs the gathered about the result – black means no decision, white announces a new pope to the world.
