Vatican conclave continues for cardinals as second day begins with more black smoke over Sistine ChapelBy Riley Stuart in Vatican CityTopic:Religious Leaders4h ago4 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 9:52amBlack smoke means deliberations as to who should be the next pope are ongoing. (Reuters: Guglielmo Mangiapane)In short: Sequestered cardinals have continued voting inside Vatican City as they attempt to choose a new pope.On Thursday morning local time, more black smoke rose from the temporary chimney in the Sistine Chapel, meaning a decision had not yet been made.What's next: It's expected voting will continue on Thursday afternoon, local time.abc.net.au/news/vatican-conclave-continues-into-second-day-for-cardinals/105266872Link copiedShareShare articleOnce again, thousands of people filed into St Peter's Square, and once again, they were disappointed.Sequestered cardinals are deliberating for a second day inside Vatican City as they attempt to pick a new pope.Watch live: All eyes on the Sistine Chapel's chimney The group of 133 electors has been completely cut off from the outside world since Wednesday, local time.But on Thursday at 11:51am local time (7:51pm AEST) there was a sign: black smoke rising from a temporary chimney on the Sistine Chapel.It's where cardinals are spending the vast majority of their time right now, when they're not eating or sleeping.Black smoke was seen rising from the Sistine Chapel at 11.51am local time. (ABC News: Riley Stuart)And it's where, twice daily, they'll burn their ballot papers to send coloured plumes into the skies above the Catholic Church's headquarters so the throngs outside can follow what's going on.Black means deliberations about who should be the next pope are ongoing. If it's white, a decision has been made.Although there's no way of telling for certain, it likely means cardinals have now undertaken three unsuccessful ballots: one on Wednesday evening and two on Thursday morning.They're expected to vote up to two more times on Thursday.A candidate must get a two-thirds majority, plus one, in order to be elected pope.Pope Francis, the most recent man to hold the role, was elected just one day after the 2013 conclave began. His predecessor, Pope Benedict, was elected after only four ballots.Crowds have packed St Peter's Square this week, attempting to catch a glimpse of the smoke. (ABC News: Riley Stuart)While it's hard to find analysts who think the current process will last longer than a few days, most also acknowledge there's also a tug-of-war over the church's future going on between cardinals.Many are keen to see Pope Francis's liberal direction continued — the late pontiff had spoken about issues like climate change, for example — while others would like to see a return to more traditional conservative values.Linda and Bruce Barth, from New Jersey, were among those in St Peter's Square when black smoke rose into the night sky on Wednesday after the first unsuccessful vote."It was very emotional to see the smoke coming out of the chimney," Linda said."We're just glad to be here at this time.""It feels like the whole entire city of Rome is here right now," Bruce said."We're part of history and we're grateful to God that we would be here tonight."Vatican City, which is where the Catholic Church is based, is an independent state entirely surrounded by Italy's capital.Posted 4h ago4 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 9:52am, updated 27m ago27 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 2:05pmShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesCabinet ministers Mark Dreyfus, Ed Husic scrapped from new Albanese ministryTopic:Political LeadershipPhoto shows a composite image of two men wearing suitsMore women in Labor than ever but top jobs still going to menBAnalysis by Brett WorthingtonPhoto shows Anika Wells Amanda Rishworth Katie Gallagher Anne AlyJacinta Nampijinpa Price joins Liberal Party as leadership race heats upTopic:Political Parties and MovementsPhoto shows A close up shot of a woman wearing a white blazer and black and white shirt.Wrong warnings, panicked staff: Bondi inquest reveals timeline of confusionTopic:CrimePhoto shows Paramedics stand with stretches near vehicles on a road.Swiss tariff crisis meeting between China and US may come to naughtIAnalysis by Ian VerrenderPhoto shows A close up shot of Donald Trump looking at Xi Jinping.Related storiesConclave to enter second day as black smoke rises after pope voteTopic:Religious LeadersPhoto shows Black smoke coming out of a chimney at sunsetRelated topicsHoly See (Vatican City State)Religious LeadersTop StoriesCabinet ministers Mark Dreyfus, Ed Husic scrapped from new Albanese ministryTopic:Political LeadershipPhoto shows a composite image of two men wearing suitsMore women in Labor than ever but top jobs still going to menBAnalysis by Brett WorthingtonJacinta Nampijinpa Price joins Liberal Party as leadership race heats upTopic:Political Parties and MovementsWrong warnings, panicked staff: Bondi inquest reveals timeline of confusionTopic:CrimeSwiss tariff crisis meeting between China and US may come to naughtIAnalysis by Ian VerrenderJust InMan charged with stalking Jennifer Aniston after crashing into her homeTopic:Courts8m ago8 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 2:23pmMaro Itoje captains British and Irish Lions squad for Australia tourTopic:Rugby Union1m ago1 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 2:31pmGerman spy agency pauses 'extremist' classification for AfD partyTopic:World Politics1h ago1 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 1:14pmSam Kerr announces birth of son with partner Kristie MewisTopic:Soccer2h ago2 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 11:52amMore Just InBack to top