Chimney Smoke Signals: No New Pope Yet as First Ballot Fails

Black smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the lack of a new pope after the first ballot. The conclave of 133 cardinals failed to elect a successor to Pope Francis, lacking the necessary two-thirds majority. They will reconvene the next day for further rounds of voting.

Black smoke poured from the Sistine Chapel chimney Wednesday night, indicating that the initial ballot in the papal conclave ended without a new pope. This traditional signal denotes that none of the 133 cardinals present achieved the required two-thirds majority to succeed Pope Francis as the Catholic Church's new leader.

The cardinals took their oaths of secrecy and initiated the electing process at the Vatican, aware that they needed to secure 89 votes to elect a new pontiff. However, as the smoke signaled, the first round closed without agreement.

Having fallen short in the first vote, the cardinals will stay at their Vatican residences overnight, reconvening in the Sistine Chapel on Thursday morning to continue the closely-watched process.

(With inputs from agencies.)