LAST UPDATE: 14:15
Shortly after 12:30 PM local time on Wednesday, black smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, signaling that the second and third ballots of the papal conclave failed to produce a new pope.
The 133 cardinal electors are expected to vote two more times this afternoon in their ongoing effort to select the next spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
“I hope that by this evening we will see white smoke from the Sistine Chapel,” said Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the eldest cardinal in the College, who is not participating in the conclave due to age. On Tuesday, he publicly wished “good luck” to Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is widely considered one of the frontrunners to succeed the late Pope Francis.
According to the Vatican’s official schedule, smoke signals are expected at 7:00 PM each day, marking the conclusion of the morning and afternoon voting sessions.
In the meantime, thousands of faithful are gathered in Saint Peter’s Square, anxiously awaiting the announcement of the new pope—an event of immense historical and spiritual significance for Catholics and the world alike.
Once elected, the new pope will be asked if he accepts the office. If he does, he will then choose his papal name and make his first appearance on the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica to greet the public with the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing.
Vatican officials anticipate that once white smoke appears, signaling a successful election, crowds of over 200,000 people may flood into Vatican City. Italy’s Civil Protection Agency has already activated a special plan to manage the expected influx.
Many analysts believe that a successful vote could still take place as early as tonight or during tomorrow morning’s session, should consensus begin to form among the cardinal electors.
Translated by Ioanna Georgakopoulou and Konstantinos Menyktas
