Cardinals returned to the Sistine Chapel on Thursday for a second day of voting in the secretive conclave to determine the next pope after the previous day ended with black smoke, indicating no candidate had the two-thirds majority.
Nearly 45,000 people waited in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday for the chapel chimney signal.
No white smoke, which normally announces a new pontiff, appeared.
Tomorrow’s expectations are high. Both Pope Francis (2013) and Pope Benedict XVI (2005) were elected on Day 2 of their conclaves.
Until a Roman Catholic Church leader is chosen, the 133 cardinal electors will cast up to four votes per day.
Vatican News reports that the first vote on Thursday could emit white smoke around 10:30 a.m. local / 4:30 a.m. ET.
If no pope is elected, more signals may follow at noon, 5:30, or 7 p.m.
The cardinals only communicate through smoke until a decision is made. White signifies a new spiritual head for 1.3 billion Catholics; black means no decision.
Current conclave is largest and most geographically diversified in Church history.
During his 12-year papacy, Pope Francis named cardinals from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Haiti, and Malaysia, diversifying the College of Cardinals.
After a three-year papal vacancy spurred measures to keep cardinals apart until a pope was chosen in 1271, the conclave tradition began.
