No Pope Chosen on First Ballot of Conclave

The first round of voting in the papal conclave ended without selecting a new pope, evidenced by black smoke billowing from the Sistine Chapel chimney. Thousands in St. Peter’s Square witnessed the traditional signal that no candidate reached the two-thirds vote threshold. This was widely expected—modern conclaves rarely yield a pope on the initial ballot. The 133 cardinal-electors remain sequestered, set to resume voting. Pope Francis’s passing last month ended a 12-year papacy, and with many cardinals of his appointment in the mix, this next choice could be transformative for the global Church.