Papal Conclave First Vote, No Pope Selected

Sistine Chapel is where the Papal Conclave is being held.

The Vatican Information Service reports that at 7:42 p.m. Rome time (1:42 p.m. Central), black smoke had arisen from the chimney installed on the roof of the Sistine Chapel signaling that the cardinal electors have not elected a new pope in the first ballot of the conclave.

The conclave is the cloistered process where cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church pray, discern and vote in the election of the new pope.

The Chair of Peter has been vacant since February 28, when Pope Benedict XVI’s retirement became official.

One-hundred-fifteen Roman Catholic cardinals did not come to consensus on a new pope during the first day of the papal conclave today.

The smoke was created by the burning of ballot papers used by the cardinals in their vote. Chemical cartridges were added to make certain the smoke did not appear to be white, which is the sign that a decision has been reached.

The conclave will reconvene on Wednesday morning.

Photo Credit: Maus-Trauden via Wikipedia Commons (GNU v.2)

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Lisa Bourne

Lisa Bourne has earned her degree in Communications from the University of Iowa, and has attended the School of Church Communications, Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, Italy.She is currently a self-employed communications specialist, and was a writer for the Press Citizen Newspapers in Des Moines, the Florida Catholic Newspaper, and recently worked for the Diocese of Des Moines as a communications specialist and staff writer.She lives in the Des Moines area with her husband Chris and their five children where they attend the Basilica of St. John in Des Moines, IA.