For the second time black smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican were 133 Cardinals are gathered to elect a new Pope.
One billion Catholics are eager to know who their next Pope will be, but it seems the Cardinals are yet to make up their minds after three ballots cast and second round of voting returned inconclusive on Thursday morning.
A successful candidate to replace Pope Francis, who died April 21, will require a two-thirds majority of the voting cardinals. White smoke will signify that a new pope has been elected, as will the ringing of the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica. There is still four more opportunities for the Cardinals to select the 267th pope.
According to the Vatican News around 15,000 people gathered in the St Peter’s square including a newly wedded couple from India. But they would have to wait a bit longer as the Cardinals will resume the process later in the evening.
The newly wedded couple who are in Rome for their honeymoon were looking forward to attending Mass by late Pope Francis, but he died on Easter Monday. They are now expecting a new Pope to be elected with the hope that they will finally get the blessing they sought for their marriage. According to them “this is a once in a lifetime opportunity”.
