Black smoke from Sistine Chapel signals no pope elected in first round of conclave

At the Vatican.

Black smoke billowed from the Sistine Chapel's chimney on the first day of the voting by cardinals to elect a new pope, meaning no consensus was made.

Four rounds of voting is slated for Thursday.

Lee Eun-hee has more.

Black smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican on Wednesday, signaling that the conclave had failed to elect a new pope on the first day.

As the dark smoke curled into the night sky, a wave of disappointment swept through the crowd gathered at St. Peter's Square, many of whom had been waiting for hours.

"It's an emotion, it's an emotion to be here, especially, and we will be here again tomorrow. It was expected to be black smoke today, for the first vote."

The black smoke from the burning ballots came more than three hours after the start of the conclave, taking longer than expected.

This was an hour longer than it took for smoke to appear after the first vote in the 2013 conclave that elected the late Pope Francis.

"I would like it to be a Pope who continues the legacy of Pope Francis, meaning that he is a more open, more liberal Pope, because that is the way to attract people to the Church."

To be elected, a new pope must secure at least 89 votes, a two-thirds majority.

The conclave will resume on Thursday, with 1-hundred-33 cardinals from 70 countries voting in strict secrecy.

"Yes, we'll come back tomorrow because we live here, so tomorrow, from the morning, we'll be on the lookout to see if there's white smoke."

When a pope is chosen, white smoke will emerge from the chimney.

Starting Thursday, the cardinals will hold four votes a day, two votes in the morning session and two in the afternoon.

Lee Eun-hee, Arirang News.