Black smoke confirms no pope elected in first conclave voting round

The wait for a new pope goes on after black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel following the first secret vote as the conclave began.

A group of 133 cardinal electors began their behind-closed-doors meeting this afternoon.

It is expected voting will resume tomorrow, and up to four rounds of voting can take place each day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

Cardinals, mostly dressed in distinctive bright red vestments, heard at a special mass today of the “choice of exceptional importance” they must make in electing the 267th pope.

A new pope requires a two-thirds majority in the voting, and white smoke will be emitted from the specially erected chimney of the Sistine Chapel to confirm a pontiff has been chosen.

The voting cardinals, those aged under 80 who are the only ones eligible to cast a ballot, were urged to “invoke the help of the Holy Spirit” to help them elect a pope “whom the (Catholic) Church and humanity need at this difficult and complex turning point in history”.

Following a centuries-old tradition, cardinals are cut off from all communications with the outside world while they take part in the anonymous voting process.

In a livestream from the Sistine Chapel, the electors could each be seen taking an oath pledging secrecy on their vote and what happens at conclave.

At around 4.45pm UK time, a Vatican official declared “extra omnes”, the Latin phrase telling non-cardinals to leave, with the large brown doors of the chapel shut shortly after.

The livestream cut to crowds in St Peter’s Square in front of St Peter’s Basilica, some of whom waved when they spotted they were on camera.

This conclave is thought to be one of the most diverse of any meeting of cardinals before, representing some 70 countries and hailing from places such as Mongolia, Sweden and Tonga which had not had a cardinal before.

Pope Francis had appointed some 108 of the 133 cardinals who will choose his successor.