The 133 cardinal electors, including four from Poland, began deliberations behind closed doors on Wednesday afternoon to choose a successor to Pope Francis, who died last month.
The first vote on Wednesday evening also ended inconclusively, as black smoke rose from the chapel at around 9 p.m., disappointing the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square.
Black smoke emerges from the chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel on the first day of the conclave, May 7, 2025. Photo: EPA/FABIO FRUSTACI
Thousands of faithful once again looked skyward on Thursday, awaiting the traditional smoke signal.
Black smoke means no candidate has secured the required two-thirds majority to become the next leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church.
White smoke will signal a successful election.
Ahead of the conclave, some cardinals voiced hope that a new pontiff could be elected on Thursday or Friday to demonstrate unity following the often-divisive, 12-year papacy of Francis, according to a report by the Reuters news agency.
Voting will resume later on Thursday, with two additional rounds scheduled in the afternoon.
The conclave will continue until one cardinal secures at least 89 votes, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Polish cardinal Konrad Krajewski, a close ally and charity envoy of Pope Francis, has been mentioned by some media outlets as a potential candidate.
Francis, who was elected in 2013 following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, died on April 21 at the age of 88.
He was the first pontiff from the Americas and the first Jesuit pope.
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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters, Vatican News