Black smoke emerges as cardinals fail to elect new pope in first ballot

Tens of thousands of cardinals gathered in St Peter’s Square as their first ballot failed to elect a new pope, signaling a historic delay in choosing a successor for Pope Francis. The thick black smoke from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney revealed that no cardinal had yet secured the two-thirds majority needed, with 133 votes cast and no winner in sight after three hours of voting. This marked an unusual delay, as popes are typically elected within days, even if not on the first ballot, raising questions about the future direction of the Church amid deep divisions and significant challenges facing the institution.