The assembled crowd had to wait longer than anticipated, as the smoke eventually appeared over three hours after the conclave had started. This delay was one hour longer than the initial vote during the 2013 conclave that ultimately selected the late Pope Francis.
The 133 cardinal electors, all of whom are under the age of 80, will retire for the night to one of two Vatican guesthouses. Here, they can continue their discussions more informally until returning to the chapel for further voting on Thursday morning.
The only way they will communicate with the outside world is through the chimney smoke, which turns black when the voting session concludes without a decision, and white when a new pope has been chosen, thanks to the special chemicals mixed with their completed ballots.
While some have called for continuity with Francis’ vision of greater openness and reform, others have said they want to turn the clock back and embrace old traditions. Many have indicated they want a more predictable, measured pontificate.
