For the second time in two days, thick black smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signaling that the College of Cardinals has yet to agree on a successor to Pope Francis.
The symbolic smoke, watched by thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square, followed two morning ballots with no clear outcome, prompting both applause and groans from hopeful spectators.
A total of 133 cardinals under the age of 80 remain sequestered in the ornate Sistine Chapel, locked in solemn deliberation to elect the 267th leader of the Catholic Church. They are required to reach a two-thirds majority — 89 votes — to confirm a new pope. Until that threshold is met, ballots are burned after each voting round, with chemicals producing black smoke for no result or white smoke to announce a new pontiff.
The process is steeped in tradition, from the cardinals’ oath of secrecy under threat of excommunication to their isolation from the outside world. Voting takes place beneath Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes, in a ritual virtually unchanged for centuries.
This conclave, the most diverse and international in Church history, follows the April 21 death of Pope Francis at age 88. The late Argentine pontiff was celebrated for his reformist views and advocacy for the poor, the environment, and inclusivity within the Church — a legacy that now shapes the contest for his successor.
Spectators from around the world have descended on the Vatican. Among them, Barbara Mason from Canada said, “I’d rather they take their time to make the right choice. We need someone who carries on Francis’s vision, especially on climate and compassion.”
Others, like Paolo and Cynthia Cabrera from the Philippines, expressed hope that Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle might emerge as pope, though they added, “We trust whoever God appoints.”
The conclave continues with two more ballots expected Thursday afternoon and four on Friday if necessary. Historical precedent suggests a resolution may take several rounds — Pope Benedict XVI was elected in four ballots in 2005, while Pope Francis emerged on the fifth in 2013.
Observers say this year’s conclave could take longer, given a divided Church wrestling with internal doctrinal tensions, declining participation in the West, and the ongoing fallout from the global clergy abuse scandal. While 80 percent of the voting cardinals were appointed by Francis, ideological rifts remain between those seeking to advance his progressive reforms and others pushing for a return to stricter orthodoxy.
Names circulating among Vatican watchers include Italian Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Hungary’s Peter Erdo, and Sri Lanka’s Malcolm Ranjith. Yet no clear frontrunner has emerged, adding to the anticipation.
As crowds continue to watch the Sistine Chapel’s chimney with bated breath, the world waits — not just for white smoke, but for a signal of the Church’s next chapter.
