Sistine Chapel Conclave: Why Black Smoke Brought Relief

Papal Conclave Begins

• 🗳️ 133 cardinals have begun the process of electing a new pope, with the first day of the conclave concluding without a consensus.
• 🇨🇭 Black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel's chimney, signaling that no candidate received the required two-thirds majority plus one vote.
• ⏳ The signal for no election came more than an hour later than anticipated, leading to a sense of relief among onlookers.

Onlooker Reactions and Expectations

• 😅 Many in St. Peter's Square were in good humor, even cheering at minor events while awaiting the smoke signal.
• ⚠️ Relief stemmed from the confirmation that the process was proceeding as planned, without any unexpected issues like stove malfunctions or health emergencies.
• 🕊️ The dean of the college of cardinals urged for communion and unity among the cardinals before they entered the conclave.

The Election Process

• 📜 A candidate needs two-thirds of the votes plus one to be elected the next leader of the Catholic Church.
• 🔥 Votes are burned after each ballot, with white smoke indicating a new pope has been elected.
• 🗓️ The last three papal elections were decided within two or three days.

What Happens Next

• 🗓️ The cardinals will hold two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon on the second day.
• 💨 Midday smoke signals are expected unless a pope is elected in the morning, which would result in immediate white smoke.
• 🧠 The process is expected to be smoother on the second day as cardinals become more familiar with the voting procedures.

Desired Papal Qualities

• ⚖️ A CBS News poll indicates 42% of US Catholics want the next pope to resemble Pope Francis.
• 🌍 Cardinals are diverse in age, background, geography, and ideology, but there's broad agreement on continuing Pope Francis's emphasis on social justice, peace, and the environment.
• 🏳️‍🌈 Disagreements exist on issues like traditional teachings on sexuality, with some bishops refusing to implement certain permissions granted by Pope Francis.