March 12th, 2013
02:47 PM ET

No new pope on conclave's first day

[Updated at 2:47 p.m. ET] In a not-so-surprising result, there will be no new pope tonight.

Black smoke has risen from a chimney over the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, indicating that no one collected enough votes Tuesday to be elected the successor to the retired Pope Benedict XVI. The Roman Catholic Church's cardinals held their first vote in the chapel today.

The cardinals will vote again tomorrow.

[Updated at 12:46 p.m. ET] The process of selecting a new pope of the Roman Catholic church has begun.

The 115 cardinal-electors have gathered in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, and the doors to the chapel have closed, marking the beginning of today's election session.

This session is scheduled to last two hours, assuming no pope is chosen before then. The cardinals would then go at it again tomorrow.

[Updated at 7:43 a.m. ET] The wait is nearly over: It's time for the cardinals to get down to the business of choosing a pope.

The Catholic Church's cardinals are set to begin their secret election, or conclave, in Vatican City on Tuesday. The process to choose a successor to the retired Benedict XVI could take days.

We have a number of features to inform you about the process. Our full story on Tuesday's activities can be found here. But also check out:

How a pope is chosen

The contenders

Video: Papal conclave 101

Cover-up claims disturb conclave

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Filed under: Catholic Church • Christian • Religion • The Vatican
soundoff (9 Responses)
  1. Al Bledsoe

    False religion puts on a good show! 2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

    March 12, 2013 at 12:36 pm | Report abuse |
  2. saywhat

    Jesus Christ was a simple man of spiritual purity and his message is simple too. Uphold the Old testament Mathew:14.
    This monarchial, intrigue, secrecy and scandal ridden legacy is a farce.

    March 12, 2013 at 1:14 pm | Report abuse |
  3. Pope Benedict XVI

    I wonder what's going on in there.

    March 12, 2013 at 2:02 pm | Report abuse |
  4. soshal justic

    A bunch of birds can pick a pope but cannot pick a pope's nose-more iconography from the church of absolute disdainful regard to iconography and idol worship hmmmm yup, get the book and follow it but have to leave the church to do so and these guys wonder why the move to secularism? Too smartt they are stoopid,..

    March 12, 2013 at 2:03 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      Catholics are not idolators.
      Sorry, but it's true. Pitting denomination against denomination is precisely what lead to the founding of the United States; to escape religious persecution from factions of the same faith. This is another reason the US has no official religion.

      March 12, 2013 at 7:28 pm | Report abuse |
  5. BOMBO

    I hear they've ordered in Chinese food.

    March 12, 2013 at 2:04 pm | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      They're dressed for it.
      I also live the ancient Egyptian inspired headgear they're sporting.

      March 12, 2013 at 7:31 pm | Report abuse |
  6. Pope Benedict XVI

    I changed my mind. I want my old job back.

    March 12, 2013 at 2:07 pm | Report abuse |
  7. Hotel Ab-Ott

    black smoke is not a good dope smoke for the pope.

    March 12, 2013 at 5:36 pm | Report abuse |
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