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Thursday, September 17, 2026

Black smoke ends first day of papal conclave

 (Photo: Getty/iStock)

A ballot has been held on the primary day of the papal conclave but not yielded a latest pope. 

Black smoke was seen billowing from the chimney over the Sistine Chapel at 21:00 local time, indicating that the vote had not reached the required two thirds majority. 

There shall be more rounds of voting tomorrow and day-after-day until a latest pope is elected. At that point, the smoke from the chimney shall be white.

Both Pope Francis and his predecessor Pope Benedict XVI were elected after two days. 

Before the conclave commenced earlier on Wednesday, the 133 cardinal electors took oaths of secrecy across the vote. 

The elected pope must secure the votes of at the very least 89 cardinals on this conclave. Among those casting their votes are the pinnacle of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols.

Although a vote was solid today, it was not expected that it might lead to the announcement of a latest pope because the technique of reaching a two-thirds majority normally takes several days.

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the Mass where he asked people to wish for the Holy Spirit’s “light and strength in order that the Pope elected could also be he whom the Church and humanity need at this difficult, complex, and troubled turning point in history”.

Tens of hundreds of individuals gathered outside in St Peter’s Square on day certainly one of the conclave however the cardinals – who’re all under the age of 80 – are usually not allowed any communication with the skin world until a latest pope has been elected. 

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