Papal Election Continues: Cardinals Again in Secret Meeting

No smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, to the disappointment of the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square. This is taken as a signal that no person received the necessary two-thirds majority (89 votes) in the second vote.

After 12:00 PM, smoke should definitely rise from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. If no candidate receives the required two-thirds majority in the third ballot, black smoke is expected. Two more ballots are scheduled for the afternoon. When a new pope is elected, white smoke rises - and the bells of St. Peter's Basilica also ring. A short conclave of only a few days is expected in the Vatican.

Pilgrims waited in St. Peter's Square for the election result

Many pilgrims waited in St. Peter's Square for the election result. In Rome, the papal electors from around the world met again on Thursday to continue the election of a new pontiff. After a joint mass in the Pauline Chapel, the 133 cardinals, strictly shielded from the outside world, proceeded to the Sistine Chapel. As expected, a first ballot on Wednesday evening did not bring the required two-thirds majority for any candidate.

O'Malley: "Papal election is not a Hollywood conclave"

"In a conclave, things do not work like in the political world, with parties. It is a matter of faith. We all want the pope that God wants to be elected. We trust in the Holy Spirit to help us find him. It is a very spiritual experience, not a Hollywood conclave," said Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, who is no longer eligible to vote due to his age, in an interview with the Milan daily "Corriere della Sera" on Thursday. The US cardinal was appointed by Pope Francis as the chairman of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors and was the Archbishop of Boston from 2003 to 2024.

Cardinal Dean Giovanni Battista Re expressed hope that the pope would be elected on Thursday. The new pope must "first and foremost try to strengthen faith in God in this world, which is characterized by technological progress." "However, from a spiritual aspect, we have noticed a certain 'forgetfulness of God.' So an awakening is necessary," said the 91-year-old, who is no longer allowed to participate in the election due to age, according to media reports.

(APA/Red)

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