Welcome back to our live coverage of the conclave as the wait for a new pope goes on.
Last night, black smoke above the Sistine Chapel signalled the 133 cardinals had failed to elect a replacement for Pope Francis in the first round of voting – four hours after they entered the building.
At 8.30am UK time this morning, they will return to the Sistine Chapel to continue voting.
Up to four rounds of voting can take place each day – two in the morning and two in the afternoon.
Last night we expected to see smoke above the chapel at 6pm but it didn’t come until 8pm. Vatican sources told Sky News that the delay in yesterday’s voting was for two reasons:
- The sermon by Raniero Cantalamessa, an Italian cardinal, was longer than expected (between 45 minutes and one hour);
- Several cardinals needed help with the translation.
It remains a wide-open election with one of the biggest and most geographically diverse College of Cardinals in history.
To win, one man needs to secure a two-thirds majority of the 133 cardinals, or 89 votes, to become the 267th pope.
For recent popes, it has generally taken a few rounds of voting to elect a successor.
When a successor is chosen, white smoke will rise from the Sistine Chapel.
The cardinals began the secretive, centuries-old ritual yesterday afternoon, participating in a rite so theatrical that Hollywood recreated it this year in the Ralph Fiennes-led film.
The voting is undertaken secretly and in silence, a process designed to be free from external interference.
Large crowds gathered outside the chapel in St Peter’s Square yesterday to wait for the first smoke signal and are already returning this morning.
Stay with us for the latest throughout the day.