Second Black Smoke Rises As Cardinals Prepare For Another Vote To Elect New Pope

Thick black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Thursday, signaling that Catholic cardinals have once again failed to elect a new pope.

Thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square—some clapped, others sighed—as the second and third rounds of voting ended without a decision.

The 133 cardinals, locked in the Vatican since Wednesday evening, are holding a secret conclave to choose a successor to Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at age 88.

Until a pope is elected, they’ll remain secluded, only communicating progress by burning their ballots.

Black smoke means no decision has been made. White smoke will signal a new pope has been chosen.

The first black smoke appeared Wednesday evening, over three hours after the cardinals began voting, leaving many in the crowd disappointed.

Still, many returned Thursday as the process continued with two more votes in the morning.

More ballots are expected later in the day and again on Friday—unless a new pope is elected sooner.

Barbara Mason, a 50-year-old Canadian visitor, said she’s not in a rush.

“I don’t want it rushed — whatever they need to do to make the right decision,” she said, adding that she hoped for someone who would follow Pope Francis’s progressive path, especially on issues like the environment and immigration.

Among those watching was Paolo Cabrera from the Philippines, who arrived early with his wife Cynthia to get a good view near St. Peter’s Basilica, where the new pope will be introduced to the world once elected.

They’re hoping for Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, a fellow Filipino, but said they’d welcome whoever is chosen.

The cardinals, all under the age of 80, stayed overnight at the Santa Marta residence and began Thursday with a private Mass to seek spiritual guidance before resuming the vote.

Inside the Sistine Chapel, beneath Michelangelo’s famous ceiling, they each write their chosen name on a ballot, walk it to the altar, and drop it into a silver urn. Once counted, the ballots are burned.

Chemicals in a second furnace change the smoke color—black for no decision, white when a new pope is chosen.

While Wednesday’s entry into the chapel was broadcast, the live feed cut off as soon as the doors closed.

The cardinals gave up their phones and swore an oath of secrecy—breaking it would lead to excommunication.

In past elections, Pope Benedict XVI was elected in four rounds, and Pope Francis in five. But experts say this conclave, the largest and most globally diverse in Church history, could take longer.

Cardinals from around 70 countries are participating, and there’s no clear favorite yet.

Whoever is chosen will inherit a deeply divided Church.

Alongside spiritual and doctrinal challenges, the next pope will face global instability, declining church attendance in the West, and the lasting effects of widespread sexual abuse scandals.

Roughly 80% of the voting cardinals were appointed by Francis, who was known for his bold reforms and advocacy for the poor.

Some want to continue his legacy, while others are pushing for a return to more conservative values.

Over a dozen names are being mentioned as possible successors, including Italians like Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Hungary’s Peter Erdo, and Sri Lanka’s Malcolm Ranjith.

Juan Benitez, a 37-year-old from Colombia, summed it up saying “The church has many divisions between liberals and conservatives, which are divisions that should not be, because I believe that the Church is universal.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Pope Francis was laid to rest on April 26 in Rome after his funeral mass at St Peter’s Square.