Black smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel chimney Thursday morning, signaling cardinals failed to reach the required two-thirds majority in their first two voting sessions of the day.
The 133 cardinal electors representing 70 countries will resume voting after a lunch break, with two additional ballots scheduled for the afternoon. Today marks the second day of deliberations following Pope Francis’s death on 21 April.
Despite no consensus yet, historical patterns suggest a potential decision soon. Both Benedict XVI and Francis were elected on the second day of their respective conclaves. In the last century, papal elections have typically required between three and eight ballots.
Vatican observers note Cardinals Pietro Parolin and Luis Antonio Tagle continue to be viewed as strong candidates, though deliberations remain strictly confidential.
The conclave has generated significant economic activity in Rome. Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reports balconies along Via Paolo VI offering prime views of the Sistine Chapel chimney are being rented for €500 daily, primarily to television networks. Other Italian media sources suggest some rental prices have reached €1,000 per day.
This College of Cardinals represents the most geographically diverse group in Church history as they follow centuries-old procedures to select the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
