Black smoke rises from Sistine Chapel as cardinals fail to elect new Pope

Thick black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Wednesday, signaling that the cardinals gathered for the papal conclave have not reached a decision on the next pope following the death of Pope Francis.

The smoke, which appeared roughly three hours and 15 minutes after voting began, confirmed that no candidate had achieved the required two-thirds majority—89 votes out of 133 cardinals—to become the new head of the Catholic Church.

Tens of thousands had assembled in St Peter’s Square, eagerly awaiting the traditional smoke signal. As the black plume appeared, a mix of disappointment and anticipation swept through the crowd, with many spectators cheering simply for the long-awaited sight.

Cardinals from over 70 nations were summoned to Rome after Pope Francis passed away on April 21, concluding a 12-year papacy. With the conclave officially underway, the cardinals have been secluded from the outside world. Mobile phones were surrendered and electronic signals were blocked within the Vatican to ensure strict confidentiality during the selection process.

The process began earlier in the day with a solemn procession into the Sistine Chapel, broadcast live on giant screens outside St Peter’s Basilica. The cardinals will resume voting on Thursday and will continue until one of them secures the necessary support to be elected pope.

(Al Jazeera)