top of page

Black smoke from Sistine Chapel chimney signals no pope elected in day 2 of conclave

  • Writer: WGON
    WGON
  • May 8
  • 1 min read

Black smoke appeared from a chimney atop the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on Thursday, signaling that cardinals meeting in a secret conclave did not elect a new pope during their two morning ballots.


The cardinals held an initial inconclusive vote on Wednesday evening.


Everything to know about the conclave

  • A conclave is a meeting between cardinals that will privately select a new pope.

  • 133 cardinals from around the world have entered the Sistine Chapel for the selection process, and will be the most geographically diverse in history.

  • The process could last several days, with the average duration based on the past conclaves lasting roughly three days.

  • Ballots will be cast beginning at 4:30 p.m., and a chimney will carry white smoke to announce that a new pope has been chosen, or black if inconclusive. A two-thirds majority vote is required to pick a successor.


They now hold two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon daily until someone wins the necessary two-thirds majority to become the next pontiff.

 
 
 

Comments


bottom of page