Daijiworld Media Network – Vatican City
Vatican City, May 8: Black smoke has again emerged from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, indicating that the cardinals have not yet agreed on a new pope following the second and third ballots of the Papal Conclave.
The smoke appeared at 11:50 am on Thursday, after the morning voting session failed to produce the required majority to elect a successor to Pope Francis.
In keeping with centuries-old tradition, the black smoke signals to the world that no candidate has secured the two-thirds majority — at least 89 votes — needed to be elected the Supreme Pontiff of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church.
The 133 cardinal electors participating in the conclave have now returned to their Vatican residences, where they are being sequestered until a pope is chosen.
Frontrunners and the unpredictable vote
As speculation continues to mount, a few names have been consistently mentioned as leading contenders. Among them are Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, and Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo. However, the lack of consensus suggests this is shaping up to be one of the most open and unpredictable conclaves in recent memory.
A time-honoured process
The election of a new pope follows a highly structured and sacred procedure. During each round of voting, cardinals inscribe their chosen name on a ballot paper bearing the Latin phrase “Eligo in Summum Pontificem” (“I elect as Supreme Pontiff”). Each elector then approaches the altar individually and recites, “I call as my witness, Christ the Lord who will be my judge, that my vote is given to the one who, before God, I think should be elected.”
The folded ballots are placed on a round plate and tipped into an oval silver and gold urn. After counting, the papers are burnt in a special stove. Chemicals are added to produce either black smoke, indicating no decision, or white smoke, signalling that a new pope has been elected.
Until then, the world waits — eyes fixed on the chimney of the Sistine Chapel — for the next signal that will mark the beginning of a new papacy.