The morning of the second day of the Conclave ended without an agreement on the name of the new Pope of the Church. The black smoke released from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel signaled that we still do not have a Pope. There were two votes in the morning. The Conclave continues after the cardinals’ lunch.
The cardinals will return to the Sistine Chapel around 3:45 PM (Rome time). It is expected that around 5:30 PM a new smoke will appear. If it is white, it will announce the election of a new Pope.
To elect a new supreme pontiff, at least 89 cardinals must reach a consensus, which is one-third of the College of Cardinals.
The last conclaves lasted at least two days. For the election of Francis, five votes were needed; in the Conclave that elected Benedict XVI, four votes were needed. In contrast, for the election of John Paul II, eight votes were needed, in a Conclave that lasted three days.
