BLACK SMOKE HAS billowed once again from the Vatican City as cardinals seek to elect a new head of the Catholic Church.
133 cardinal electors began the heavily ritualised and secret conclave process yesterday, shut away incomplete isolation as they pick a successor to the late Pope Francis.
They burn their ballot papers and mix them with chemicals to show how proceedings are going – black signalling no pope chosen yet, and white announcing a new pontiff.
No pope in modern times has been elected on the first attempt, so yesterday’s black smoke was widely expected.
However, given recent history, a successful outcome is possible today.
Pope Benedict XVI was elected on the fourth ballot of the 2005 conclave, and Pope Francis was elected on the fifth ballot of the conclave in 2013.
A quick burst of applause broke out among the crowds that had gathered in St. Peter’s Square when the smoke began to appear at around 11.50am this morning.
A muted roar then went up from the crowds shortly after the colour of the smoke became evident, and thousands of onlookers streamed out of the Vatican.
Four rounds of ballots are scheduled for the conclave today: the first two in the morning and then another two this afternoon.
The next two rounds of voting are expected to continue until at least 4pm local time (3pm Irish time).
A two-thirds majority among the 133 cardinals is required for a new pope to be selected.
With the largest number of cardinal electors ever to vote in a conclave, and therefore the most votes to count,the voting is expected to take slightly longer than usual.
If, after three days of voting, they have not elected anyone, the cardinals can take a maximum of one day off for prayer and informal discussion.