Black smoke wafting from the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel signals no pope elected in first conclave vote (Photos)

Black smoke billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday evening, signaling an inconclusive first vote by cardinals to elect a new pope to guide the Roman Catholic Church.

The smoke is the only public sign of what is happening during the Papal Conclave, after the cardinals handed in their phones and took oaths of secrecy while the Vatican shut down mobile phone towers to protect the deliberations.

When a pope is chosen, white smoke will emerge, but this had not been expected on Wednesday – a pontiff has not been picked on the first day of a conclave in modern times.

According to tradition, black smoke indicates that no candidate has received the required two-thirds majority. But when a pope is chosen, white smoke will emerge.

The conclave will continue this morning when the Cardinal electors will gather once more in the Chapel around 10:30am Rome time to cast their votes again for the election of the 267th Pope.