Morning Votes Fail to Elect Pope
Two morning votes by cardinals have failed to elect a new pope. Black smoke from a stovepipe chimney atop the Sistine Chapel once again indicated the results.
Two morning votes by cardinals have failed to elect a new pope. Black smoke from a stovepipe chimney atop the Sistine Chapel once again indicated the results.
There was some confusion on Tuesday's second vote. At 11:50 a.m. in the Vatican City, reports say that the smoke emanating from the pipe was dark. However, at noontime, when the bells began to toll as they do daily at St. Peter’s Basilica, the crowds nearby thought it was a signal that a new pope had been chosen.
The cardinals took a break for lunch and will return for the afternoon voting sessions. If they fail to choose a pope by tonight, new voting rounds will resume tomorrow. Papal conclaves of the last century took from two to five days.
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Early this morning the cardinals celebrated Mass in the St. Martha’s House hotel chapel where they are residing during the conclave. It is located a few hundred yards from the Sistine Chapel.
The most prominent cardinal in the days leading up to the conclave has been Joseph Ratzinger, 78, of Germany. He officiated Pope John Paul II’s funeral on April 8, presided at the last public Mass before the conclave yesterday in addition to and leading the 115 assembled prelates in oaths of secrecy prior to locking themselves in the Sistine chapel for the first vote.
A two-thirds vote, or 77 cardinals are required to agree before electing the pope in the first stages of voting.
The voters who will chose the next leader of the Roman Catholic Church are forbidden from outside contact as they deliberate. Security precautions have been taken keep the secrecy of meeting the intact. Electronic jamming devices are meant to block snoopers. Also, the staff coming into contact with the cardinals has been sworn to secrecy.
