Black Smoke On First Vote – No New Pope Yet

It indicated that the new pope had not been elected when a plume of black smoke rose out of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican yesterday.  It indicates that no one received the required two-thirds majority for election. So, they resume today.

Very seldom has the new pope been elected on the first ballot, so there were no surprises when black smoke rose form the chimney. In the case of a pope being elected the smoke, by tradition, is white.

There will be another vote this morning and then again this evening until one candidate reaches the required votes. The Cardinals will stay sequestered until a new pope has been elected.