Black smoke rose once again from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at around 11:50 a.m on Thursday, May 8 (CAT), marking a second failed vote in the conclave to elect the next pope.
The black smoke signaled that the College of Cardinals — composed of 133 cardinal-electors — failed to reach the required two-thirds majority, or 89 votes, to elect the 267th Roman pontiff.
Among the Filipino cardinals participating in the papal conclave are Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Manila Archbishop Jose Advincula and Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David.
Tagle reportedly cast the third vote, Advincula the 72nd and David the 103rd among the cardinal-electors.
Voting formally began on Thursday, with four rounds expected daily: two in the morning and two in the afternoon
Unsuccessful ballots are followed by black smoke emerging from the chimney after each round.
If no pope is elected by the end of the third day, voting will be temporarily suspended for a day of prayer and reflection before resuming.
If a new pope has been chosen, white smoke from the Sistine Chapel will appear instead.
In recent conclaves, the process of selecting the next pope often took two to three days. Pope Francis was elected after five rounds on the second day of the 2013 conclave. His predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, was chosen in the fourth ballot.
This year’s conclave opened late evening on May 7 (PST), with the cardinal-electors processing into the Sistine Chapel and taking their oath of secrecy one by one.
The first smoke, which was expected around 2 a.m., appeared closer to 3 a.m. — more than three hours after the chapel’s heavy doors were closed by the master of ceremonies.
