Black smoke after first two votes of day two as conclave votes for new pope

Black smoke came out of the Sistine Chapel chimney in the Vatican this morning, meaning that no pope was elected on second or third ballots of the conclave to choose a new leader of the Catholic Church.

The smoke appeared at 11:50 a.m. (5:50 a.m. Eastern time) after two conclave morning voting sessions of day two to elect a successor to Pope Francis. Groans of disappointment rippled through the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

Black smoke means the cardinals haven’t reached a consensus, and white smoke means there’s a new pope.

Two-thirds or 89 votes from the 133 cardinals eligible to vote are needed to elect the 267th pope. Seventy countries are represented.

A number of the cardinals voting this time are from countries that have never been represented in a papal conclave. Pope Francis appointed more than 20 cardinals from countries that had never previously had a cardinal.

The cardinals have paused for lunch and will return to the chapel for the afternoon voting session.

Two more votes are possible today.

With files from The Canadian Press

READ MORE: Black smoke pours from Sistine Chapel chimney, meaning no pope was elected as conclave opens