Black smoke once again billowed from the Sistine Chapel’s chimney on Thursday morning, indicating that the cardinals in conclave have not yet reached an agreement on a new pope.
This was the second appearance of black smoke, following a similar signal on Wednesday evening, soon after the 133 cardinals began deliberations to choose a successor to Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday.
The selection of the 267th pope in the Catholic Church’s nearly 2,000-year history may still take some time. Although many anticipate a decision before the week’s end, the exact timing remains uncertain.
Until then, the world continues to watch the chimney above the Sistine Chapel in the Apostolic Palace, awaiting the white smoke that will announce the election of a new pontiff.