Three votes, no pope

First, second, and third ballot - Black smoke

The conclave to elect the next pope is underway.

At The Pillar, we’re watching the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, which will tell the world when a new pope has been chosen.

You can watch this space for updates after each vote - black smoke (no pope yet) or white smoke (Habemus papam!)

Workers install the chimney on top of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican (Vatican Media)

Thursday morning — Black smoke

A livestream of black smoke May 8, just before noon, taken from the Vatican press room, where JD had been editing things! Credit: JD Flynn/Pillar Media

After two ballots Thursday morning, the cardinals just before noon in Rome burned their morning ballots with wet straw (and chemical additives), producing the black smoke which convey that no pope has yet been elected.

According to the Church’s papal election law, the college of cardinals held two inconclusive ballots Thursday morning, in addition to the one taken Wednesday night, meaning there have been three ballots in total with no pope elected.

For the next few days, the college will hold two ballots each morning, and two each afternoon. The ballots of the first election of each session will be burned independently only if they led to the election of a pope — if no pope was elected in the first votes, those ballots are burned together with those of the second vote when it concludes.

Catholics begin to disperse from St. Peter’s Square after black smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney Thursday morning. Credit: Ed Condon/Pillar Media.

First ballot - Black smoke

After an unusually long wait, Wednesday night’s vote produced black smoke - no pope selected.

The smoke was seen some two hours after it has been expected. The cause of the lengthy delay was not clear.

Despite the delay, large crowds stayed in the square, singing, praying, and periodically applauding, but mostly just waiting in the cold.