VATICAN CITY — Black smoke filled the night sky on Wednesday evening in Rome, signaling the cardinals did not find a new pope as the Conclave officially got underway.
Over 30,000 people were at St. Peter’s Square as all eyes were fixed on the chimney at the Sistine Chapel.
The Conclave is expected to last several days until a new leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Roman Catholics is found.
Black smoke is no surprise as there is no clear favorite to succeed the late Pope Francis. The Church is divided on continuing Francis’ progressive path he set or going more conservative.
New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, one of 10 U.S. cardinals participating, told SiriusXM’s Catholic Channel on Tuesday that he expects the secretive process to last days.
“We’re not horse trading here,’’ Dolan said. “We’re saying, ‘Tell me about this guy. You’re from Latin America. Go through the list of bishops. Tell me some of these fellas. Am I right to be enchanted by this guy?’”
108 of the 133 cardinals joining the voting during Francis’ time as pontiff, and at least 25 of them coming from countries that have never voted before.
