VATICAN: Black Smoke After the First Ballot, No Pope Elected
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Nearly three hours since the doors of the Sistine Chapel closed on the evening of Wednesday, May 7, black smoke from the chimney emerged, which signalled the votes of the Cardinals did not reach a two-thirds majority to elect the successor of St. Peter. With 133 Cardinal Electors, at least 89 votes are required to elect a new pope.
Thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square to await the announcement. As a tradition of the Church, the black smoke was an announcement on its own that there was no Pope yet.
