On the first day at the Conclave, the first smoke was black. This indicates that the necessary quorum of two-thirds for the election of the new Pope has not yet been reached

The Conclave for the election of the new pontiff officially began today. At 4:30 p.m., the 133 cardinal electors gathered in the Sistine Chapel to swear an oath of secrecy, followed by the traditional “Extra omnes”, which marks the exit of all unauthorised persons and the start of voting.

At 4:30 p.m., the cardinal electors entered the Sistine Chapel and took their oath before the Extra omnes, which started the voting operations

The first smoke is black. A black smoke indicates that the necessary quorum of two-thirds for the election of the new Pope has not yet been reached

A white smoke will announce to the world that the election has taken place.

In the event of white smoke, the bells of St. Peter’s Basilica will ring in celebration, and the new pontiff will appear from the Loggia delle Benedizioni to impart his first blessing “Urbi et Orbi”.

The Conclave will continue in the following days with two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon, until the new Pope is elected.