Black smoke rose from the Vatican chimney Wednesday as cardinals failed to choose a new pope on their first try. The 133 church leaders came from 70 countries to pick someone who will lead Catholics worldwide. They locked themselves away without phones, starting a process steeped in centuries of tradition. They return Thursday morning to vote again after resting overnight.
Crowds packed St Peter's Square, watching screens that showed only a thin chimney for hours. Many people stayed until dinner time to see the dark smoke signal. Most voters were named by Pope Francis himself, who picked leaders from places like Mongolia that never had a cardinal before. This mix makes the outcome hard to predict.
Cardinal Parolin ran the ceremony beneath the famous Last Judgment painting. Each voter placed a hand on the Bible, promising total secrecy about their talks. At morning Mass, they heard advice to find someone who brings people together instead of dividing them. The main question facing voters is whether they should continue or change Francis's path on issues like women's roles and LGBT acceptance.
Crowds packed St Peter's Square, watching screens that showed only a thin chimney for hours. Many people stayed until dinner time to see the dark smoke signal. Most voters were named by Pope Francis himself, who picked leaders from places like Mongolia that never had a cardinal before. This mix makes the outcome hard to predict.
Cardinal Parolin ran the ceremony beneath the famous Last Judgment painting. Each voter placed a hand on the Bible, promising total secrecy about their talks. At morning Mass, they heard advice to find someone who brings people together instead of dividing them. The main question facing voters is whether they should continue or change Francis's path on issues like women's roles and LGBT acceptance.
