In the early hours of Thursday in Manila (9 p.m. Wednesday in Rome), the College of Cardinals cast their first vote to choose the 267th Pope, but black smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney signaled no decision yet.
Thousands in St. Peter’s Square watched, hoping for white smoke—the sign a new leader of the Roman Catholic Church had been chosen.
The secretive conclave, which began Wednesday with 133 cardinals sworn to silence and sequestered, may last days or weeks.
Historically, conclaves have ranged from ten hours to three years.
