GENEVA, May 8 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- The Vatican’s conclave to elect the 267th pope began on Wednesday, but black smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel chimney signalled no winner in the first round, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported.
Voting will resume on Thursday as the Church awaits the announcement of its next leader.
If a new pope is elected, white smoke will rise from the chimney and the phrase habemus papam (Latin for “we have a pope”) will be declared by the cardinal protodeacon from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Continuing a centuries-old tradition, 133 cardinal electors gathered within the Vatican to begin the process of choosing a new pontiff.
The day began with a solemn mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, celebrated by Cardinal Dean Giovanni Battista Re, who also presided over the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis.
Following the mass, the cardinal electors proceeded to the Pauline Chapel and then into the Sistine Chapel, where the conclave is being held.
The Sistine Chapel, famed for Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes, is sealed off from the outside world until a new pope is chosen.
Under conclave rules, a two-thirds majority is required for a candidate to be elected as the next pope.
This year’s conclave continues a tradition dating back to 1492, when the Sistine Chapel hosted its first papal election -- the same year Christopher Columbus reached the Americas.
Although some papal elections in history lasted years, more recent conclaves have proceeded swiftly. In 2013, Pope Francis was chosen after five ballots over two days.
Pope Francis died on 21 April at the age of 88, following a series of health complications, including cardiac arrest.
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
