The first day of the conclave to elect the new Pope ended with a plume of black smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney, indicating that no candidate received the required 89 votes to be elected Pontiff. The 133 cardinal electors cast their ballots after taking an oath to keep the proceedings secret.
The day began with a Mass Pro eligendo Pontifice in St. Peter’s Basilica, celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. In his homily, Re emphasized the importance of invoking the Holy Spirit’s guidance in electing the new Pope, who would lead the Church at a complex moment in history.
The cardinals then gathered in the Pauline Chapel for the opening ceremony of the conclave, before proceeding to the Sistine Chapel to begin voting. Historically, no Pope has been elected on the first day of a conclave. The quickest recent election was that of Pope Pius XII in 1939, who was elected on the third ballot.
Thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, watching the event on screens installed along Via della Conciliazione. The conclave will continue on Thursday, May 8, with the cardinals meeting for Mass and Lauds before proceeding to the Sistine Chapel for further voting.