Black smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday evening, signaling that the first vote by the College of Cardinals to elect a new pope ended without a decision. Thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square watched as the smoke emerged later than expected, more than three hours after the conclave began—longer than it took during the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis.
The inconclusive vote came as no surprise, as a pope has not been elected on the first day of a conclave in modern times. Nevertheless, some cardinals expressed hope that the process could conclude by Thursday or Friday to demonstrate unity following the divisive 12-year papacy of Francis, who passed away last month.
The 133 cardinal electors under the age of 80 will spend the night at Vatican guesthouses, where informal discussions may continue before they return to the chapel for two votes each in the morning and afternoon. A two-thirds majority—at least 89 votes—is required to elect a new pontiff. The only sign of progress to the outside world will be the color of the smoke: black for no decision and white when a pope is chosen.
The conclave comes amid a complex landscape within the Catholic Church, with cardinals split over the direction of the next papacy. While some advocate continuity with Francis’ progressive approach, others seek a return to traditional values. In a pre-conclave sermon, 91-year-old Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re urged his fellow prelates to prioritize the good of the Church and humanity, emphasizing unity in diversity.
Francis’ critics, especially ultra-conservatives, accused him of heresy for his openness to the LGBT community, dialogue with other religions, and reforms in Church doctrine. The lack of consensus on a clear successor has turned attention to potential front-runners, including Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. If neither can gather sufficient support, other candidates such as France’s Jean-Marc Aveline, Hungary’s Peter Erdo, American Robert Prevost, and Italy’s Pierbattista Pizzaballa may emerge as compromise choices.
This year’s conclave features a record 133 cardinal electors from 70 countries, a reflection of Pope Francis’ efforts to diversify Church leadership. The cardinals will weigh whether to elect a pope from the growing congregations of the global South, return the leadership to Europe, or potentially make history with the first American pope.
The solemn proceedings began with cardinals entering the Sistine Chapel amid Latin chants and organ music, beneath Michelangelo’s Last Judgment fresco. Each elector took a vow of secrecy before non-participants were ordered out with the traditional Latin phrase “Extra omnes!” and the doors were shut to the outside world. While formal discussions are forbidden during voting, unofficial lobbying is expected during breaks and meals as support for various “papabili” shifts in successive rounds.
