Black smoke signals no pope chosen; conclave to continue Wednesday

VATICAN CITY – Day one of the papal conclave is over, as symbolized by the black smoke that rose from the Vatican chimney Tuesday morning.

The black smoke indicates that no one has received enough votes to be declared the next pope yet, with voting set to continue early Wednesday morning.

The next vote is scheduled to take place at 4:30 a.m. EST Wednesday, although it is unknown whether that vote will be enough to select the next leader of the Catholic church.

Starting Wednesday, the cardinals can vote up to four times a day until a new pontiff is elected. If a pope is not elected by Saturday, the cardinals will break for a day of reflection, and then resume voting on Sunday.

Ahead of the conclave, Saint Peter’s Square was packed with thousands of people who stood and waited despite the rain.

Once the black smoke was visible the crowd quickly dispersed, however they are expected to return Wednesday for the next vote.

CityNews Channel reporter Francis D’Souza is reporting live from Vatican City.

Prior to the vote the cardinals all took an oath of secrecy, meaning we will hear nothing from inside the Sistine Chapel until the next pope is selected.

Prior to the oath, led by prelates holding a crucifix and candles, the 115 scarlet-robed cardinals chanted the Litany of Saints, the hypnotic Gregorian chant imploring the intercession of the saints to help them choose the next pope.

They then took their places in the chapel frescoed by Michelangelo with scenes of “Creation” and “The Last Judgment.” Click here for the prayer service booklet.

A selection was not expected Tuesday, as there is yet to be a clear favourite and it will likely take some time and posturing for the next pope to be selected.

“The reason we’re not likely to see white smoke today is because there’s still [not a] clear front-runner. There are a couple names that are being thrown around — of course our Canadian cardinal Marc Ouellet — but throughout the pre-conclave meetings, no clear cardinal seemed to emerge,” D’Souza said.

Earlier Tuesday, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals, led a mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, although he is too old to vote in the conclave.

Conclave schedule

Tuesday

5 a.m.-6:45 a.m. ET (10 a.m.-11:45 a.m. local time): Cardinals attended mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.

10:45 a.m. ET (3:45 p.m. local time): Cardinals head to the Apostolic Palace.

11:30 a.m. ET (4:30 p.m.): Procession from the Pauline Chapel into the Sistine Chapel.

11:45 a.m.-3 p.m. ET (4:45 p.m.-8 p.m. local time): Each cardinal takes an oath, most likely followed by the first vote. First puffs of smoke from chimney expected by 3 p.m. ET.

3-3:30 p.m. ET (8-8:3- p.m. local time): Cardinals pray in the Sistine Chapel and then head to their hotel.

Wednesday

3:15 a.m. ET (8:15 a.m. local time): Mass in the Pauline Chapel.

4:30 a.m. ET (9:30 a.m. local time): Prayer in the Sistine Chapel, followed by voting.

7:30 a.m. ET (12:30 p.m. local time): Lunch break

11:50 a.m. ET (4:50 p.m. local time): Voting starts in the Sistine Chapel.

NOTE: Smoke will emerge from the chimney at the end of the morning session — 7 a.m. ET (noon local time) and at the end of the afternoon session — 2 p.m. (7 p.m. local time). But if an earlier vote yields a pope, white smoke would emerge at that time, ending the conclave.

The new pope will emerge onto the balcony and his identity is known within an hour after being elected.