No Pope Chosen on Day One of Conclave
Black smoke from the Sistine Chapel signaled the failure to elect a new pope on the first day of the conclave. Cardinals will continue voting in a series of secret ballots until a successor to Pope Francis is chosen. The conclave, marked by secrecy and the absence of a clear frontrunner, pits those favoring continued reform against those seeking a more traditional papacy. Potential candidates include Cardinals Tagle, Prevost, and Parolin, though Pope Francis’ changes to the College of Cardinals have introduced significant unpredictability. Voting will continue for several days, with a break for reflection if a pope isn’t selected by Sunday.
John Q. Hosedrinker