Black smoke billows from Sistine Chapel chimney, Conclave fails to elect new Pope on first day of voting

On Wednesday, May 7, the conclave began in the Vatican's Sistine Chapel. 133 cardinals from 71 countries gathered to elect a new Pope, but no decision was made.

It was reported live from the Vatican.

Black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel chimney, which means that during their first and only vote yesterday, the cardinals did not elect a Pope. White smoke and bells will signal that the church has received a new leader. It is worth noting that for many centuries no Pope has been elected on the first day of the conclave.

On May 8, more rounds of voting for the Pope will take place. This will continue until the decision is made by the cardinals.

It is worth noting that the cardinals in the chapel will not have contact with the outside world until a new Pope is elected. So, the conclave is still ongoing.

If a Pope is elected, white smoke will appear from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel.

The rules for the election of the Pope behind closed doors appeared in 1274 at the Council of Lyon, convened by Pope Gregory X. The announcement of the conclave to elect a new pontiff must take place between the 15th and 20th days, when the Vatican officially does not have a sitting Pope — Sede vacante. The cardinals gather in St. Peter's Basilica, where they ask for the blessing of the Holy Spirit to elect a new Pope.

The pontiff is elected by all cardinals of the Vatican who are under 80 years old. This rule has existed since January 1, 1971, when Pope Paul VI limited the age of cardinals who can vote in the conclave. Those cardinals who turned 80 at the time of the restriction, but were already members of the Sacred College of Cardinals, the Pope allowed to join the conclave of their own free will.

We will remind, all 133 cardinals who will take part in the election of the new Pope arrived in the Vatican on May 5.

The conclave to elect the new Pope began on Wednesday, May 7.

During the conclave, when the cardinals will elect the new Pope, there will be no mobile communication in the Vatican. This is necessary so that the cardinals can make decisions in complete isolation from the outside world.