Black Smoke Signals First Conclave Vote to Elect New Pope
Vatican City – In a historic conclave held Wednesday, over 130 Catholic cardinals gathered in the Sistine Chapel for their first ballot in the election of a new pope. After three hours of voting, black smoke emerged from the chapel’s chimney around 9 p.m. Vatican time, indicating that no consensus was reached on a new leader for the Catholic Church.
The voting will continue with two ballots each on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, before a day of prayer on the sixth day. Cardinal voting requires a two-thirds majority—89 cards—prompting a prayerful process where participants write their candidates’ names and pledge to vote in good conscience.
This conclave follows the death of Pope Francis on April 21, marking the beginning of a nine-day grieving period known as "novemdiales." Francis, buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, was the first pope in 120 years not interred in Vatican City, requesting a simple tomb marked only with "Franciscus."
The electoral body is notably diverse, reflecting Pope Francis’ initiative to include voices from underrepresented regions. Potential successors include Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, and Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle.
As anticipation builds globally, Catholics await the smoke signaling the next pope, with many in the Jefferson City diocese recently visiting Rome, hopeful that they will witness history. The phrase “habemus papam” is expected to resonate soon, marking a new chapter for the Church’s 1.4 billion followers.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
