Black smoke from the roof of the Sistine Chapel signalled that Roman Catholic Church cardinals were still deadlocked on a choice of successor to Pope John Paul II after two rounds of voting early on Tuesday.
An initial emission of black smoke from the chimney was followed 15 minutes later by a second one that coincided with the ringing of St Peter’s bells at the stroke of noon, sowing confusion among the thousands of onlookers gathered in the square because a successful vote is to be accompanied by tolling bells.
Vatican television said it is likely that the inconclusive ballots were burned in two batches, one for each unsuccessful round.
In all, three unsuccessful rounds of voting have occurred since the 115 cardinal electors began their secret election conclave on Monday, when a first round was held in the evening.
The cardinals are to vote four times a day — twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon — until they succeed in electing the 265th leader of the world’s 1,1-billion Roman Catholics. — Sapa-AFP