Cardinals fail to pick new pope on day one of the conclave

Black smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, meaning that cardinals did not elect a new pope on the first day of the conclave.

There is no clear frontrunner to take over leadership of the Roman Catholic Church, and cardinals will continue voting Thursday in a series of highly secretive ballots until they choose a successor to Pope Francis.

The 133 voting cardinals are returning to the Santa Marta residence inside the Vatican, where they will remain sequestered.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics will have to continue waiting, with no hints about the future leader.

The cardinals have all taken an oath of secrecy and given up their electronic devices to prevent communication outside the conclave, leaks or outside surveillance. The cardinals and Vatican staff will only get their phones and devices back once the conclave has ended.

Breaking the oath of secrecy results in automatic excommunication from the church.
Outside, tens of thousands gathered as the sun set at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square to watch the smoke signals coming from the burning ballots, even though it would have been highly unusual for a new pope to be selected after only one vote in the conclave.

“We tried to manifest it, but we kind of knew it wouldn’t be tonight,” said Carla Peat, 19, who traveled to Rome from Scotland with friends for the conclave. The friends joked that their local priest went to dinner instead of watching the chimney, but they will all be back at the square on Thursday.

The past two popes, Benedict XVI and Francis, were appointed on the second day of voting. Before them, John Paul II was appointed on the third day.