A surprise result emerged from the first round of voting in the conclave, leaving uncertainty at the Vatican as no new pope is yet to be elected.
The first round of voting in the conclave, which began on Tuesday, has concluded with a surprise result. The ballots were burned in a large urn in St. Peter’s Basilica, releasing a thick cloud of black smoke into the air.
No New Pope YET
According to tradition, when no candidate receives a majority of votes after two rounds of voting, a second round is held 15 days later. This process continues until a new pope is elected. On Wednesday morning, however, a second round was expected to begin as the cardinals were seen entering St. Peter’s Basilica for their final deliberations.
When a new Pope is needed, the College of Cardinals gathers in secret conclave to select a successor.
The process begins with the death or resignation of the previous Pope and typically takes place within a few weeks.
The cardinals elect a new Pope through a series of ballots, requiring a two-thirds majority vote.
Once elected, the new Pope chooses his papal name and is formally introduced to the public.
This ancient tradition dates back to the 10th century and is steeped in history and ritual.
Black Smoke Returns
In a stunning turn of events, the black smoke returned to the skies above Rome once again on Wednesday evening, signaling that no agreement had been reached between the cardinals. The Vatican confirmed that the voting had resumed, but it appears that the same impasse persists.
Black smoke is a type of smoke that appears black in color due to the presence of unburnt carbon particles.
It is often produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal or oil.
This type of smoke can be hazardous to human health and the environment.
In industrial settings, black smoke is typically caused by malfunctioning equipment or inadequate ventilation systems.
It is also associated with wildfires and volcanic eruptions.
The conclave has so far seen 15 ballots cast by the 115 cardinals participating in the election process. While the majority of the cardinals remain tight-lipped about their votes, a few have hinted at a stalemate among the candidates.
No New Pope in Sight
With no clear leader emerging after three rounds of voting, the Vatican has announced that the conclave will continue for another 15 days on Thursday. It is unclear what factors are contributing to the deadlock, but one thing is certain: the search for a new pope shows no signs of slowing down.
In the interim, prayers and hopes from around the world have been directed towards Rome, where the cardinals‘ deliberations have taken center stage.
