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Black Smoke Rises; No Pope Chosen in New Voting Black Smoke Rises; No Pope Chosen in New Voting
(35 minutes later)
VATICAN CITY — Black smoke billowed from a makeshift chimney atop the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, signaling that the 115 cardinals of the Roman Catholic church eligible to vote for a new pope had again failed to elect a successor to Benedict XVI and meaning that balloting would continue until they do. VATICAN CITY — Black smoke billowed from a makeshift chimney atop the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday, signaling that the 115 cardinals of the Roman Catholic church eligible to vote for a new pope had again failed to elect a successor to Benedict XVI and that balloting would continue until they do.
A first ballot also ended inconclusively on Tuesday, signaled by the inky black smoke from the copper chimney jutting from the chapel’s roof. A first ballot also ended inconclusively on Tuesday, signaled by the inky black smoke from the copper chimney jutting from the chapel’s roof. Two ballots had been scheduled for Wednesday morning.
Voting is set to continue — up to two rounds in the morning and two in the afternoon — until the cardinals reach a two-thirds majority of 77 votes. Voting is set to continue — up to two rounds each morning and afternoon — until the cardinals reach a two-thirds majority of 77 votes.
At that point, white smoke will billow forth, telling the world’s one billion-plus Roman Catholics they have a new leader to take on the myriad challenges confronting their church. The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica will peal over the huge piazza of the same name to announce the election of Benedict’s successor.At that point, white smoke will billow forth, telling the world’s one billion-plus Roman Catholics they have a new leader to take on the myriad challenges confronting their church. The bells of St. Peter’s Basilica will peal over the huge piazza of the same name to announce the election of Benedict’s successor.
It is not clear when that moment will come. It was not immediately clear how many rounds had been held on Wednesday before the black smoke emerged. In what was scheduled as the first full day of balloting since the conclave began on Tuesday, the prelates celebrated a morning mass in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace before voting in the Sistine Chapel under 16th century frescoes by Michelangelo.
In what was scheduled to be the first full day of balloting since the conclave began on Tuesday, the prelates celebrated a morning mass in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace before the anticipated voting in the Sistine Chapel under 16th century frescoes by Michelangelo. Outside, on a rainy morning, pilgrims and sightseers sheltered by umbrellas began assembling early in case word of a new pope came sooner rather than later, hoping that the signal from the burning ballot papers would be unequivocal.
Outside, on a rainy morning, a handful of pilgrims and sightseers sheltered by umbrellas began assembling early in case the moment comes sooner rather than later, hoping that the signal from the burning ballot papers would be unequivocal. The crowd soon thickened, with many people staring toward the chimney with its simple cover or looking at it on huge television screens. Some closed their eyes and clasped their hands around rosaries in prayer.
But the crowd soon thickened, with many people staring up at the chimney with its simple cover or looking at it on huge television screens. Some closed their eyes and clasped their hands around rosaries in prayer. At the last papal election, in 2005, the color was indeterminate in an early round, prompting confusion. But, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the smoke was unmistakably black.
At the last papal election, in 2005, the color was indeterminate in an early round, prompting confusion. But, on Tuesday, the technicians who prepared the chemicals to combine with the burning ballots must have done something right. Technology helped too. By the time the first smoke emerged, at 7:41 p.m. on Tuesday, it was dark outside. But giant screens in St. Peter’s Square showed the smokestack clearly.
Technology helped too. By the time the smoke emerged, at 7:41 p.m., it was dark outside. But giant screens in St. Peter’s Square showed the smokestack clearly. On a cold and rainy night, the square was still packed and some people shrieked in excitement at the spectacle. The inconclusive outcome of the early balloting had been widely predicted. No front-runner had emerged in the same way as in 2005, when Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected to become Benedict XVI on the fourth round of voting. Benedict resigned last month, citing failing powers and infirmity, the first pope to do so in six centuries.
The outcome of the first ballot had been widely predicted. All 115 candidates gathered in the Sistine Chapel are technically candidates — although the field of real contenders is much narrower — and the winner needs a two-thirds majority of 77 votes. That paved the way for the voting in the Sistine Chapel, whose secrecy shields the cardinals’ deliberations from outside scrutiny. But it is also designed to protect cardinals from earthly influence as they seek divine guidance.
The secrecy of the proceedings shields the cardinals’ deliberations from outside scrutiny. But it also is designed to shield from cardinals from earthly influence as they seek divine guidance for their choice.
Those influences seemed potentially acute on Wednesday for at least one cardinal elector inside the Sistine Chapel — Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, the former archbishop of Los Angeles.Those influences seemed potentially acute on Wednesday for at least one cardinal elector inside the Sistine Chapel — Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, the former archbishop of Los Angeles.
Even as the prelates weighed their options late Tuesday, news reports from California said the archdiocese, the cardinal himself and an ex-priest had reach a settlement of almost $10 million in four child sex abuse cases, according to the victims’ lawyers.Even as the prelates weighed their options late Tuesday, news reports from California said the archdiocese, the cardinal himself and an ex-priest had reach a settlement of almost $10 million in four child sex abuse cases, according to the victims’ lawyers.
The agreement offered eloquent testimony to the sexual, financial mismanagement and other crises facing Benedict’s successor.The agreement offered eloquent testimony to the sexual, financial mismanagement and other crises facing Benedict’s successor.
Cardinal Mahony, who retired less than two years ago as the leader of the largest Roman Catholic archdiocese in the United States, was removed from all public duties by his successor, Archbishop José H. Gomez, last month as the church complied with a court order to release thousands of pages of internal documents that show how the cardinal shielded priests who sexually abused children.Cardinal Mahony, who retired less than two years ago as the leader of the largest Roman Catholic archdiocese in the United States, was removed from all public duties by his successor, Archbishop José H. Gomez, last month as the church complied with a court order to release thousands of pages of internal documents that show how the cardinal shielded priests who sexually abused children.
His presence contrasted with the fate of Britain’s most senior Roman Catholic cleric, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who announced his resignation last month after being accused of “inappropriate acts” with priests and said he would not attend the conclave. The timing of his announcement — a day after news reports of alleged abuse appeared in Britain — suggested that the Vatican had encouraged the cardinal to stay away.His presence contrasted with the fate of Britain’s most senior Roman Catholic cleric, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, who announced his resignation last month after being accused of “inappropriate acts” with priests and said he would not attend the conclave. The timing of his announcement — a day after news reports of alleged abuse appeared in Britain — suggested that the Vatican had encouraged the cardinal to stay away.

Daniel J. Wakin reported from Vatican City, and Alan Cowell from London.

Daniel J. Wakin reported from Vatican City, and Alan Cowell from London.