Second Day of Conclave Ends Without Pope as Black Smoke Rises Again

Black smoke rose once again from the Sistine Chapel chimney on Thursday morning, signaling that the cardinals in conclave have yet to agree on a new pope. This marks the second consecutive smoke signal indicating no decision, following a similar scene on Wednesday evening, the day the voting began.

A total of 133 cardinals are meeting in strict secrecy within the Vatican to choose a successor to Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday. Despite speculation that a new pope could be elected before the end of the week, no official timeline has been set.

As the world watches and waits, the Church remains in a state of anticipation, with no clear sign yet of when white smoke—signifying a successful election—will appear.