Black smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signaling that no new pope has been elected yet by the College of Cardinals.
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This marks the second smoke signal from the secret conclave, following Wednesday evening’s black smoke, as the 133 cardinal-electors continue deliberations to reach the required two-thirds majority to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away last month at the age of 88.
The smoke signals are the only public indication of developments inside the Conclave, as cardinals surrender their phones and take oaths of secrecy. In a bid to ensure confidentiality, the Vatican also shuts down mobile phone signals within the area.
Cardinals vote up to four times daily, while thousands of faithful and curious onlookers gather in St. Peter’s Square, eagerly awaiting the white smoke that will announce the election of a new pope.
The Conclave began on Wednesday morning with a solemn Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, during which senior Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re prayed for divine guidance, asking that the cardinals be enlightened to choose “the Pope our time needs.”
Among the leading candidates to succeed Pope Francis are Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, former Archbishop of Manila and current head of evangelization at the Vatican. Both are considered strong contenders, with diverse backgrounds and considerable support within the Church.
Though some in the crowd groaned in disappointment as Thursday’s black smoke emerged, it remains unlikely that a consensus would be reached in just three voting sessions, especially given the need for broad agreement among cardinals from across the globe.
Historically, both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis were elected on the second day of voting—Benedict after four rounds, and Francis after five. Their elections were notably swift by papal standards.
By comparison, Pope John Paul II was elected in 1978 on the third day of voting, during the eighth ballot. Earlier in the 20th century, conclaves took even longer—Pope Pius X was elected in 1903 after five days of deliberations, the same duration it took to elect Pius XI in 1922.
As the world watches and waits, the cardinals remain cloistered, guided by tradition, prayer, and discernment in selecting the next spiritual leader of the Catholic Church.
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