No Pope From First Conclave Ballot As Black Smoke Seen At Sistine Chapel Chimney

After a lengthy wait, black smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney Wednesday evening, meaning that the cardinals were unable to choose a new Catholic Pontiff, who will succeed Pope Francis.

Recalls that Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, March April 21, 2025, following ill-health.

Crowds were gathered in their tens of thousands in St Peter’s Square for the first vote of conclave – the results of which took more than three hours to announce.

LEADERSHIP reports that the Cardinals had earlier on Wednesday afternoon taken an oath secrecy ahead of the Conclave to elect a new Pope.

As the first ballot, which is only one planned for Wednesday, failed to produce the result, cardinals will return on Thursday to a closed-door Sistine Chapel for more rounds of voting.