Black smoke from Sistine Chapel meaning pope not elected yet | BBC News

Key Concepts:

• Conclave: Meeting of cardinals to elect a new pope.
• Sistine Chapel: Location of the conclave.
• White Smoke: Signal indicating a new pope has been elected.
• Black Smoke: Signal indicating no pope has been elected.
• Oath of Secrecy: Cardinals' pledge to keep the election details confidential.
• Congregations: Meetings of cardinals to discuss church priorities.
• Majority: 89 votes needed to elect a new pope.

Events at St. Peter's Square

• Thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square awaiting the result of the first vote of the conclave.
• The first vote lasted approximately 3 hours.
• The crowd was estimated by police to be around 30,000 people.
• The crowd was focused on the Sistine Chapel chimney, looking for smoke.
• The long wait led some to speculate that white smoke might appear, which would have been unusual for a first vote.
• Ultimately, thick black smoke emerged, indicating no pope had been elected.
• The crowd dispersed quickly upon seeing the black smoke.

Conclave Process and Voting

• Cardinals are locked inside the Sistine Chapel for the duration of the conclave.
• The first day included the swearing of an oath by each of the 133 cardinals, promising secrecy about the election details.
• The oath-taking process will not be repeated on subsequent days.
• Voting will continue the next day, with potentially four rounds of voting: two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
• If no pope is elected in the first vote of a session, a second round of voting will follow without any smoke signal in between.
• White smoke signals the election of a new pope, while black smoke indicates no decision.
• The secrecy surrounding the conclave makes it difficult to predict the outcome or timeline.

Cardinal Discussions and Consensus

• Cardinals will discuss the results of the first vote in the evening.
• They may begin to coalesce around potential candidates.
• The conclave is diverse, with many cardinals appointed by Pope Francis.
• Cardinals have had over two weeks of congregations to discuss church priorities and issues from their regions.
• These discussions inform their votes and considerations for the future of the church.
• A majority of 89 votes is required to elect a new pope.

Notable Quotes

• "So we can stand at ease till tomorrow" - Indicating the lack of immediate progress.

Conclusion

The first day of the conclave concluded without the election of a new pope, as indicated by the black smoke emerging from the Sistine Chapel chimney. The process is highly secretive, making predictions difficult. Cardinals will continue voting the next day, with potential for multiple rounds and smoke signals. The cardinals' prior discussions and the diversity of the conclave will play a role in the ongoing deliberations as they seek to reach the required majority for electing a new pope.