There are strong indications that the Cardinals, echelon of the Catholic Church, failed to elect a new Head of the church in their early morning vote today.
This is because, long after ballots were cast, no smoke arose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, the venue where the electors are secluded.
Traditionally, a billow of black smoke indicates failure of ballot, while the billow of white smoke from the chimney signals the success of polling and hence, the election of a new Pope.
A total of 133 Cardinals drawn from five continents are participating in the historic ritual, technically called the Conclave.
To become Pope and head of the Church, a Cardinal must earn the positive vote of two – thirds of the tally of electors.
At dawn on Thursday, all 133 Cardinals took breakfast by 6.30 local time, before retiring to the Sistine Chapel where papal electors are secluded.
Shortly afterwards, they polled but the outcome remained unknown, even though the absence of white smoke indicated that no cardinal had been elected.
Consequently, they were priming for another round of polling before lunch, at press time.
Where there is no winner in the second ballot today, voting is to resume after lunch.
